Indonesia Ranked Second in Number of Tuberculosis Cases in the World, What’s the Cause of Transmission?

Suara.com – Cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Indonesia are still quite high. In fact, the number of cases in Indonesia is still quite far from the achievement targeted in 2030.

Chairman of the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) Agus Dwi Susanto said, based on data from the Global Tuberculosis Report 2022, Indonesia ranks second in the world after China. It is said, until now there are as many as 969 cases.

“Based on TB Report 2022 data, Indonesia is in second place for the highest number of TB cases after China, the number if I’m not mistaken or 1 person every 33 seconds gets TB,” said Agus in a press conference commemorating World Tuberculosis Day 2023, Friday (24 /3/2023).

Pulmonary specialist and the Indonesian Tuberculosis Eradication Association (PPTI) Infection Working Group, dr. Tutik Kusmiati, SpP (K) explained, basically TB transmission is fairly easy. The reason is, TB germs will easily attack people who have low immunity.

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“So for TB germs it is very easy to infect those who have low immunity. This low immunity can be because he has an immune disease, such as tuberculosis, then he has diabetes and his immunity can also decrease, “explained dr. tick.

Meanwhile, TB is also easy to attack for patients who have cancer or are undergoing dialysis. Dr. Tutik explained, this disease is also easy to attack babies because their immune systems are not yet perfect.

“Then patients with other immune diseases, cancer, then undergo dialysis, then toddlers, toddlers whose immunity is still not perfect, so they are people who are susceptible to TB,” continued dr. tick.

Apart from the immune system, families who have close contact with sufferers are also at high risk. Moreover, if the sufferer’s house does not have good ventilation. The reason is, TB germs very easily last a long time in humid situations.

“Apart from that, close contacts at home need to be watched out for because they gather every day with TB patients. It’s automatically easier to inhale the droplets, especially if the ventilation at home isn’t good, TB germs can survive for a long time in damp, dark situations, they can live for a long time, months, years,” he explained.

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For this reason, it is important for people with TB to have a house with good ventilation. This will prevent the risk of transmission to family members.

“It’s different if there is good ventilation, good circulation, sunlight can enter the house, it can reduce concentration. If the window is open, you can’t be inhaled, it will automatically spread outside and you can’t be inhaled with family members,” he said.

Not only that, dr. Tutik emphasized that the nutritional intake consumed is also a factor for someone to contract TB. The reason is, the nutrition that enters will greatly affect the body’s immunity. For that, dr. Tutik suggested consuming nutritious foods.

“Then nutrition, to increase immunity is of course inseparable from nutrition. The nutrition must be nutritious. If the nutrition is low, then the ventilation is not good, then there are TB patients who live in the same house, it will accelerate the transmission,” he concluded.