After the government of the United Kingdom issued new figures about the disease on December 5th, a doctor has issued a warning that tuberculosis (TB), the disease which is often associated with the Victorian era, is still a serious public health issue in England today.
The official figures showed that there was an 11% increase in cases of Tuberculosis in 2023 compared to those from a year prior.
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TB is associated with the Victorian era
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious threat to public health in England, despite caused an epidemic all over Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.
According to the UKHSA, in 2022 there were 4,380 reports of the disease, with the numbers increasing to reach 4,855 in 2023.
The numbers may seem scary, but they’re low
While these numbers may stress you out, they are actually comparatively low to this century’s peak, which was in 2011 when the rate of notification of the disease was 15.6 reports per 100,000 population.
The UKHSA assured that England is a low-incidence country for the disease as the rate is 8.5 notifications per 100,000 population in 2023.
The increase didn’t hit a specific sector of the population
According to the UKHSA, the increase in TB notifications in 2023 in comparison to 2022 hit both UK-born and non-UK born people in the country, with 80% of notifications of TB last year in people born outside the United Kingdom.
TB is linked to large urban areas
The disease is typically more prevalent in large urban areas, making London the holder of the highest TB rates in the UK with a rate of 18.7 notifications per 100,000 people.
TB also remains linked with deprivation
The disease is seen to have links to deprivation of basic human needs.
For UK-born individuals, it is more common among those who suffer from homelessness, had contact with the criminal justice system or suffer from drug or alcohol dependence.
Many have developed drug resistance
Unfortunately, in 2023, 2.4% of the TB notifications were confirmed to be multi-drug resistant. Drug-resistant infections of TB require more prolonged treatment which can often also be more complex.
To fight this, the UKHSA has worked towards quicker diagnosis of drug resistance through implementing a Whole Genome Sequencing diagnostics program.
The disease is preventable, but it’s serious
“TB is curable and preventable, but the disease remains a serious public health issue in England,” said Dr Esther Robinson, head of the TB unit at UKHSA.
“If you have moved to England from a country where TB is more common, please be aware of the symptoms of TB so you can get promptly tested and treated through your GP surgery,” Dr Robinson continued.
It’s not always the flu or Covid-19
“Not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB,” Dr Robinson explained.
Symptoms of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis comes with a cough that lasts more than three weeks, high temperature and night sweats, as well as loss of appetite and weight loss.
Although the disease is more prevalent in the lungs, it can be found in other parts of the body as well with symptoms like swollen glands and joints.
TB is preventable and treatable
While the disease can be treated with a course of antibiotics, it can still be serious if not treated and so it is highly important that you seek medical advice if you feel you might have it.
UKHSA said it remains working on detection and control of tuberculosis in England.
