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pendy · 17-02-2005, 14:19

TB was virtually eradicated in this country due not only to the immunisation programme, but also to better housing and nutrition, vital components in the treatment of TB. We have seen an upsurge due to several factors, not least of which is allowing infected people into the country.

There is also the fact that a great many people from poor backgrounds (as many refugees are) are not well educated and do not realise that compliance with the full treatment is absolutely essential - they feel better, they stop treatment. The TB bug develops resistance - the drugs don't work any more. Also TB has become linked with HIV, and new and more virulent strains have developed.

The only way forward seems to be to resume screening of the population as a whole (which used to happen in the 50s) and heavily supervised treatment, all of which we can ill afford.

I agree with Lettie about hospital cleanliness, it used to be that each ward had a ward maid on duty at all times, and they took a pride in keeping their ward clean and hygienic. Perhaps a little more spent on that would save a fortune in treatment!

17-02-2005, 14:19	#30
pendy Resting in peace Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: London/Oswaldtwistle Posts: 1,123 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 910	Re: I could spit i'm so mad!!! TB was virtually eradicated in this country due not only to the immunisation programme, but also to better housing and nutrition, vital components in the treatment of TB. We have seen an upsurge due to several factors, not least of which is allowing infected people into the country. There is also the fact that a great many people from poor backgrounds (as many refugees are) are not well educated and do not realise that compliance with the full treatment is absolutely essential - they feel better, they stop treatment. The TB bug develops resistance - the drugs don't work any more. Also TB has become linked with HIV, and new and more virulent strains have developed. The only way forward seems to be to resume screening of the population as a whole (which used to happen in the 50s) and heavily supervised treatment, all of which we can ill afford. I agree with Lettie about hospital cleanliness, it used to be that each ward had a ward maid on duty at all times, and they took a pride in keeping their ward clean and hygienic. Perhaps a little more spent on that would save a fortune in treatment!