TB has come to acquire dangerous proportions with the emergence of new, deadlier strains.
Caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, there are 12-13 drugs that are known to cure it. However, today there are other variants of the disease that are becoming resistant to these drugs, making treatment extremely difficult.
Types of TB
Multidrug Resistant TB (MDR TB)
Resistant to at least two of the best drugs used to treat TB-Isoniazid and Rifampicin. These drugs are used to treat most people with normal TB.
Extremely or Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR TB)
A rare type of MDR TB that is resistant to four types of drugs used. Apart from Isoniazid and Rifampicin, it shows resistance to any of the fluoroquinolones and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs. This leaves patients with treatment options that are fewer and much less effective.
Totally Drug Resistant TB (TDR TB)
A generic term for TB strains that are resistant to almost all the drugs used to generally cure TB. This makes treatment almost impossible. TDR TB has been identified in three countries so far—India, Iran, and Italy.