High incidence of lung damage found among tuberculosis patients

Doctors say smoking and alcohol consumption during the course of treatment are the major causes of associated comorbidities. Though anti-TB drugs do not directly cause any lung damage or other respiratory problems, smoking and drinking after treatment can affect the lungs and cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

“The treatment procedure through antibiotics are less likely to damage the lung, as anti-TB drugs prove highly effective against the disease. However, in rare paradoxical situations, lung damage is seen in TB patients because of the disease and not due to the drugs. Anti-TB drugs used in the State are a boon for curable TB. But if these patients continue smoking or use of alcohol once cured, there is a high risk of respiratory diseases and lung damage,” said Dr Ranjith Veeramani Thangavelu, senior assistant consultant, Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine.

Patients with history of tuberculosis have high prevalence of various respiratory issues and lung damage, reveals a recent study titled ‘Bronchiectasis in India: Results from the European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration (EMBARC) and Respiratory Research Network of India Registry’.

A recent study published in Lancet Global Health Journal also highlighted that bronchiectasis is a common but neglected chronic lung disease, with at least 35.5 per cent of the cases present in individuals who underwent TB treatment. The study aimed to describe the characteristics, severity of disease, microbiology, and treatment of patients with bronchiectasis in India.

As part of the study, 2,195 individuals with CT-confirmed bronchiectasis were enrolled from 31 centres across 14 States. It was found that previous tuberculosis was the most frequent underlying cause of bronchiectasis and more number of cases were reported in men. The findings of the study stated that TB patients undergoing antibiotic treatment are likely to suffer from lung damage and reduced quality of life later.