Table of contents:
- Various important facts about tuberculosis in Indonesia
- 1. TB is the number one killer infectious disease in Indonesia
- 2. TB mostly attacks men of reproductive age
- 3. The incidence of tuberculosis in remand centers and prisons is quite high
- 4. DKI Jakarta occupies the province with the highest reported TB cases
- 5. The success rate for TB cure in Indonesia varies
- The cause of the high number of TB cases in Indonesia
- 1. Relatively long treatment time
- 2. There is an increase in people infected with HIV / AIDS
- 3. The emergence of the problem of resistance / resistance to antituberculosis drugs
According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), one third of the world's population has been infected with the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Every second, there is one person infected with TB. Data in 2019 shows that Indonesia is ranked third as the country with the most cases of tuberculosis (TBC) in the world, after India and China. Tuberculosis in Indonesia is still a frightening specter and its control continues to be encouraged.
Various important facts about tuberculosis in Indonesia
Knowing the data and facts about TB in Indonesia can help you be more aware of this disease.
Based on data collected from the 2018 Indonesian Health Profile by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, here are some interesting and important facts about tuberculosis in Indonesia:
1. TB is the number one killer infectious disease in Indonesia
In Indonesia alone, TB is the number one cause of death infection in the category of infectious diseases. However, when viewed from the general causes of death, TB ranks 3rd after heart disease and acute respiratory disease in all ages.
The number of tuberculosis cases found in 2018 was around 566,000 cases. This figure increased from the tuberculosis disease data recorded in 2017, which was in the range of 446.00 cases.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths recorded due to TB disease based on 2019 WHO data is 98,000 people. These included 5300 deaths from tuberculosis patients suffering from HIV / AIDS.
2. TB mostly attacks men of reproductive age
There were 1.3 times more tuberculosis cases in males than females. Likewise, the tuberculosis data in each province throughout Indonesia.
Most cases of tuberculosis were found in the 45-54 age group at 14.2%, followed by the productive age group (25-34 years) which was 13.8%, and in the 35-44 years age group at 13.4%.
From these data it can be interpreted that basically everyone can contract tuberculosis. Especially for those who have risk factors for TB, such as a weak immune system or frequent contact with patients.
3. The incidence of tuberculosis in remand centers and prisons is quite high
The incidence of TB disease in Indonesia is very high, especially in urban areas, dense and slum places, and the workplace environment.
However, WHO records in 2014 stated that TB cases in Indonesian remand centers and prisons could be 11-81 times higher than the general population. In 2012 there were 1.9% of the Indonesian prison population who were infected with TB. This figure increased to 4.3% in 2013 and 4.7% in 2014.
The bacteria that cause tuberculosis can live for a long time in a room that is dark, damp, cold and not well ventilated. This situation is what occurs in most prisons and detention centers in Indonesia. Indonesia only has 463 detention centers which are sufficient to accommodate 105 thousand prisoners. But in reality, prisons in the country are filled with up to 160 thousand people, aka exceeding capacity.
Detainees suspected of tuberculosis are not quarantined in special rooms. Therefore, the TB transmission rate in prisons continues to increase.
4. DKI Jakarta occupies the province with the highest reported TB cases
According to the Health Profile of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, DKI Jakarta is the province with the highest number of reported TB cases in 2018. After that, it is followed by South Sulawesi and Papua.
Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara had the lowest TB cases.
5. The success rate for TB cure in Indonesia varies
Treatment success rate is an indicator used to evaluate TB control in a country. This figure is obtained from the total number of TB cases that recovered from complete treatment among all TB cases that followed treatment.
The Ministry of Health has set a minimum standard for the percentage of successful TB treatment nationally at 90%, not much different from the WHO which sets the rate at 85% for each country with the most TB cases. In 2018, the success rate of Indonesian TB treatment has achieved the expected results.
However, the success rate of TB treatment during 2008-2009 has reached 90%, and continues to fall and fluctuate. The latest data, the success of TB treatment in Indonesia is recorded at 85 percent. The lowest TB cure percentage ever occurred in 2013, which was around 83 percent.
South Sumatra was the province with the highest success rate, namely 95% and the lowest was 35.1% for West Papua province. Meanwhile, the success rate of treatment in DKI Jakarta province which holds the largest reported cases has only reached 81%.
The cause of the high number of TB cases in Indonesia
Reporting from the page of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, there are at least three factors that cause the high number of TB cases in Indonesia, namely:
1. Relatively long treatment time
About 6-8 months is the reason people with tuberculosis stop treatment in the middle of the road after feeling well even though the treatment period has not been completed. This will keep the bacteria alive and continue to infect the body and those closest to them.
2. There is an increase in people infected with HIV / AIDS
The HIV virus can weaken the body's immunity. Therefore, people with HIV will easily become infected with other diseases including tuberculosis, so people living with HIV / AIDS or PLWHA are advised to take a TB test. People who are infected with HIV / AIDS are 20 to 30 times more likely to be infected with TB. About 400 thousand people living with HIV in the world died from TB in 2016, reports the WHO.
Apart from PLWHA, children, the elderly, people with cancer, diabetes, kidney and other autoimmune diseases are at a higher risk of becoming infected with TB because their immune system is unable to fight the growth of malignant TB bacteria.
3. The emergence of the problem of resistance / resistance to antituberculosis drugs
The bacteria that cause tuberculosis can be resistant to some types of antibiotics, making it difficult to heal. One of the causes is neglect to follow the TB treatment rules. This condition is also known as drug-resistant TB or MDR TB. The number of tuberculosis drug-resistant cases continues to increase every year. In 2018, there were more than 8,000 MDR TB cases.
Although data from the situation of TB disease in Indonesia during 2018 can prove that this disease can be treated, this disease still requires special control efforts from the government. In Indonesia, prevention of TB disease from an early age can be done through the BCG vaccine. Also make sure you always maintain your health and personal hygiene.
