Do Diabetics Stand a High Risk of Suffering from Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis occurs due to mycobacterium, which, after inhalation, passes to others through saliva droplets from the body of an infected person. Scientists are working to develop drugs to effectively treat and eradicate the disease.
Of late, scientists have established a new link between individuals with diabetes and tuberculosis. Diabetes affects the body’s immune system making it susceptible to tuberculosis bacteria. The inference comes following a Harvard School of Public Health research where 13 studies spanning over 40 years were conducted to assess the relationship between diabetes and tuberculosis. The data showed a threefold increase in active tuberculosis incidents.
These results suggest that efforts to diagnose diabetes can positively impact tuberculosis treatment. Though young people living in developing countries were shown to contract tuberculosis, no data showing tuberculosis sufferers standing a high chance of diabetes exists. According to the WHO, there are 180 million people estimated diabetics worldwide, a figure expected to double by 2030. Despite the goal to eradicate tuberculosis by 2050, 8.9 million new cases sprung up in 2004. Diabetes is expected to impact tuberculosis incidents negatively in the years to come. Further studies need to be carried out.
Filed under: Dietary Health Tips on February 2nd, 2010
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