TB and COVID-19

Since most of the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to that of tuberculosis, people may get anxious if they start feeling any of the signs, such as cough, fever and difficulty breathing.

Patients who already have tuberculosis have to be extra cautious as both these diseases (TB and COVID-19) primarily attack the lungs and spread via close contact. (Read more: Droplet transmission)

Doctors believe that people who are being treated for active TB and contract COVID-19 infection may have poor outcomes if the TB treatment is interrupted.

The differences between COVID-19 and tuberculosis are:

There are certain measures which can be taken so that TB patients stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak:

• Though the modes of transmission of the two diseases are somewhat different, the ways to protect against both are the same. Protective measures involve:
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Maintaining respiratory hygiene
  • Isolating suspected positive cases from healthy ones to prevent the spread of the disease
  • Patients are asked to cover their noses and mouths with a mask or a tissue paper while coughing and sneezing
  • Wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the absence of water
• Diagnostic tests should be available for both TB and COVID-19. This would help the health officials to differentiate between the disease that the person may be suffering from. The tests for both conditions should be done for individuals with respiratory symptoms, which may be similar for the two diseases. Early detection and efficient symptomatic treatment may help in reducing morbidity and mortality from both COVID-19 and TB. 
• The treatment for TB patients should be done on an outpatient basis to reduce opportunities for transmission. If possible, TB patients should be given community-based care over hospital treatment unless their condition gets serious and requires hospitalisation.
• All TB patients, including those in quarantine or isolation, must get uninterrupted anti-tuberculosis treatment.
• Proper preparation and monitoring should be done to ensure that the supply of TB medicines and diagnostic equipment is not interrupted during the COVID-19 outbreak. 
• The health officials should provide an adequate supply of TB medicines to all the patients to take home. This would ensure that their treatment is getting completed without having to visit the health centres unnecessarily to get the medicines. 
• All the respiratory physicians, pulmonology staff, TB specialists and health workers at the primary healthcare centres should be available for patients with pulmonary complications of COVID-19. (Read more: Can COVID-19 cause permanent lung damage?)
• Doctors may also use digital health technologies to support patients by communicating, counselling, giving care tips and informing them about the disease. The doctors may use electronic medication monitors and video-supported therapy to stay in touch with their patients.

Scientists and researchers do not have data on whether those suffering from or having a previous history of TB are at a higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection. However, because both TB and COVID-19 target the lungs, this may put patients at an increased risk of developing more severe symptoms of the coronavirus infection.

Doctors also believe that people who had TB and needed lung surgery for the treatment or those who have been diagnosed with post-TB lung disease would be at a higher risk. They should consider staying home until the overall situation is brought under control.