Muscat - There has been a moderate increase in the number of cases of tuberculosis over the past year, with Muscat governorate registering the highest rise in new cases, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Health (MoH). Dr Mohamed Redha al Lawati, head of Ministry of Health's national tuberculosis and leprosy control programmes, said that 375 TB cases were registered in Oman (234 nationals and 141 non-nationals) in 2012, which is 41 cases (12.3 per cent) higher as compared to 2011.
Elaborating on the latest data available, Dr Lawati pointed to the decrease in TB cases among Omanis. "Total TB cases [among Omanis] came down 0.85 per cent last year (234) from 236 in 2011." As per the data, the percentage of total TB cases among non-nationals rose by 43.8 per cent (141 cases) compared to 98 cases in 2011. Among the types of tuberculosis, pulmonary TB affects the lungs. Its initial symptoms are confused with those of other diseases.
Extra-pulmonary TB is in which the disease spreads to parts outside the lungs. Examination of sputum smear under a microscope is called a smear test. In come cases, diagnosis involves a sputum test. Oman is targeting an incidence rate of 1/100,000 population by 2015, Dr Lawati said. "Oman has reached 4.9/100,000 in 2012; other GCC countries have similar rates," he added.
According to him, all TB patients in 2012 were tested for HIV and 14 of them were found positive. He added that last year, 256 TB patients (both nationals and expatriates) had undergone a Drug Sensitivity Test (DST). "Among these, four were reported to be Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR-TB), of which three were Omanis and one an expatriate," he added.
Dr Lawati pointed out that TB surveillance has been strengthened by analysing data at village level, besides increasing visits to government and private health institutions. "Regional TB teams were formed to conduct surveillance and management at the regional level,' he said.
© Muscat Daily 2013
