TB dept struggles to find drugs for six-month-old

The crux of the problem is that the medicines available with the administration are of much higher potency than the patient's requirement.
MiD DAY had reported yesterday (‘Six-month-old girl battling MDR-TB') about this rare instance of such a young child suffering from the dreaded disease. Officials from the TB department informed MiD DAY that considering the patient's age and since drugs of appropriate potency are not available, doctors are dividing the medicines at hand and administering them to the girl.

The child was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital where she was diagnosed positive for MDR-TB. After adequate treatment she was transferred to her hometown Ahmednagar, where she is now receiving care. "Patients are administered medicines according to their age and weight. We have started doing the same with the infant," informed Sanjay Doiphode, senior TB andHIV supervisor.

Elaborating on the situation, another government health official, who did not wish to be named, said "After some effort we manage to procure injections of the required potency for her, but there is a problem with some of the tablets."

"The girl is tested positive for MDR-TB, but the resistance so far is for one drug. Another test has been conducted to check resistance for another medicine and the report is awaited. The girl is receiving treatment according to paediatricians' guidelines. The necessary drugs of TB are also being given in divided dosages," said Dr HH Chavan, assistant director (TB) from the state health department.

7,386
No of paediatric cases of TB reported in the state in 2012

3,566
No of paediatric cases of TB reported in the state so far this year

8,172
No of cases of MDR-TB recorded in the state till August 2013, since notification became mandatory last year

91
No of cases of XDR-TB (extensively drug resistant tuberculosis) in the state till August 2013, since notification became mandatory last year u00a0