Extensively Drug Resistant TB sets off scares in US

New York:An Indian woman infected with a rare strain of TB has created a health scare in three US states and for people on her flight.

The woman with extensively drug resistant tuberculosis travelled from India to Chicago and is now being treated in a special isolation facility in Washington.

The woman on landing in Chicago visited Missouri and Tennessee before seeking medical treatment in Washington. Center for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) said that it was coordinating with the Illinois State Department of Health to identify people she may have contacted.

Here is all you need to know about Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR) TB:

What is XDR TB?

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is a relatively rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB).

Though TB infects millions globally, HIV patients and people with a compromised immune system, for example cancer patients, are at a higher risk of contracting XDR TB.

Since XDR TB is resistant to most drugs, treatment in some cases may take over two years and involve a variety of antibiotics and even surgery in some cases.

What are its symptoms?

Symptoms for XDR TB are same as that of any other type of TB infection, which includes- feeling sick or weak, weight loss, night sweats, fever, coughing, coughing up blood and chest pain. In some cases, people with latent form of TB may display no symptoms at all.

How can it be detected?

There is no on-the-spot test for TB. There is skin test, which determines if an individual is infected with TB. Specialized tests are required to confirm if a person has MDR TB or XDR TB, which may take up to six months.