EUROPE/ITALY - TB still not defeated: every year 3 million die. Rising number of cases in Italy, also among minors

Rome (Fides Service) - According to the World Health Organisation the most widespread disease in the world is tuberculosis. Every year 8 million new cases and 3 million deaths are registered. TB is the main cause of death by a single infecting agent Kock bacillus. In Italy the most recent statistics available issued by the National Epidemiological Bulletin refer to 1999 and say in that year 4,385 cases were registered and 151 were children under 14.
Contrary to forecasts 25 years ago that TB was under control which led to the closing of TB centres, in the mid 1980s in Italy and other industrialised countries TB made a slow but progressive come back particulary among poorer, underprivileged people.
This may be due to various reasons including the spread of HIV/AIDS, increasing migration more or less controlled from developing counries where TB is widespread, an increase of bacillus resistent to anti-TB drugs.
TB is transmitted mainly by inter-human contact via air. Rapid identification of infected and carriers is fundamental for prevention. Children in contact with infected adults should be screened with a skin test, easy to execute, low cost and reliable. A positive result means the child or adult has come in contact with the TB bacillus but not necessarily “infection” however more test must be made. Once identified TB is treated with one drug for 6-9 months to prevent increase in germs, their diffusion and the appearance of the illness with all its different clincal expressions.
Early diagnosis is still the best means of TB prevention pending the production of a more effective vaccine. (AP) (12/9/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:31; Parole:378)