New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) Latent tuberculosis, which occurs without any symptoms is the highest among agate stone workers — who make jewellery and decorative items, according to a study by researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The workers are regularly exposed to silica dust as the jewellery and decorative items are made by polishing, chipping, and drilling agate stones, which contain more than 60 per cent free silica.
“Inhaling silica dust impairs the immune system and increases the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB),’ the researchers said on Friday.
The study by ICMR’s National Institute of Occupational Health in Ahmedabad is based on tests of 463 agate-stone workers in Khambhat, Gujarat.
The team used an Interferon Gamma Release Assay — a blood test that measures the immune response to TB bacteria.
The findings, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports journal, showed that the “burden of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in India’s agate stone workers is nearly double the national average (31 per cent)”.
About 58 per cent were found to have LTBI — higher than the 41 per cent reported for high-risk groups.
Moreover, those indulged in polishing and chipping stones, which generate more dust and finer particles, showed higher LTBI positivity compared with those drilling.
Workers’ low income, poor nutrition, and overcrowded living conditions increase their susceptibility to LTBI, the study showed.
“The community should be included as a high-risk group for LTBI testing in India’s national TB guidelines,” the researchers said.
The 2021 tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment guidelines in India included silicosis as a screening group, yet latent TB infection (LTBI) testing for silica-dust-exposed individuals is underemphasized.
The researchers called for more cost-effective testing methods like Cy-Tb and implementing shorter, more manageable TB preventive treatment plans. They also stressed the need to put “craftspeople who inhale silica dust for five years or more on preventive treatment without the need for LTBI testing”.
India, which is striving for TB elimination by 2025, grapples with an alarming 0.35-0.4 billion TB infections and 2.6 million annual TB cases. Studies indicate a 5-10 per cent progression from LTBI to active TB disease, typically within 2 years post-infection.
–IANS
rvt/svn
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
