| Abstract: | This is an article on tuberculosis (TB) incidence among women in the reproductive age group and its therapeutic management. TB has become the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age, as reported by the WHO. This disease incidence counters perceptions in wealthy countries where the disease is most commonly found in elderly men. Women of reproductive age are more susceptible to other diseases once infected with TB than are men of the same age. Studies are being conducted on the biological, epidemiological, social, and cultural differences in TB occurrence among men and women and their access to the TB treatment strategy referred to as "directly observed treatment short-course" (DOTS). The WHO recommends DOTS, by which patients are observed and monitored while taking their medication. DOTS combines five elements: 1) political commitment, 2) case detection through sputum smear microscopy, 3) directly observed short-course treatment, 4) regular drugs and supplies, and 5) monitoring systems with evaluation treatment outcome for each and every patient. The WHO recognizes three factors which compound the problem of the TB epidemic: multi-drug resistant TB, HIV, and the economic crisis in Asia. To date, over 100 countries have been using DOTS. In at least one Asian country, Thailand, the government has committed to a 5-year plan to ensure DOTS accessibility. |
