The return of the curse of ancient diseases

The plagues and ails of humanity are many. We are passing through a phase when supposedly ancient diseases are now rearing their heads again to haunt and torment us. Malaria is one of the killer diseases that were thought to have been wiped out around the middle of the twentieth century. However we have found that malaria today is a killer disease which is affecting the life and the survival of people in many parts of the state of Meghalaya. The disease has become resistant and new strains have developed which are in the main resistant to many of the drugs prescribed for curing the more traditional forms of malaria. Once upon a time it was thought that malaria was prevalent only in swampy areas infested with brackish water and mosquitoes. The disease has mutated into many forms which have placed a strained on the resources of the state department which is trying its level best to combat the new forms of afflictions. In order to effectively combat the growing pandemic nature of the spread of malaria, people have to be made aware of how to take care of themselves especially when hold families are suffering from this debilitating disease. The pathetic state and condition of health care in the rural areas leaves much to be desired and if we are to deliver an improved health care service to the people many of whom are poor and needy, then many changes have to be brought about in the administration of health care in this state of ours.
However, a more serious concern is in relation to the rise and return of tuberculosis (TB) or what is commonly known as consumption as a disease which is silent, deadly and a killer if proper care is not taken by those stricken by it and by government agencies. This disease is one of mankind’s greatest scourges. The disease can remain dormant for a very long time before manifesting itself and ravaging the human body. Children in particular are very very susceptible. The germ causing TB, the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the main cause of T. B. in human beings. The germ can be trapped in human tissue, surrounded by defensive cells, breeds and finally scaled up as a hard calcified nodule can be seen by X-Ray. The main areas of the human body which are affected are the lungs and stomach. In order to cure this disease, heavy doses of antibiotics are needed and one of the most effective today is the AKT series from Lupine who are the pioneer company in the development of anti tuberculosis drugs. Apart from the above form of this disease, tuberculosis also attacks the bones, a vindictive manifestation especially if the spine is affected which is called Koch’s or Pott’s Spine. I have a firsthand experience of this manifestation because my wife has been afflicted with this form of the disease. The disease is so vindictive that the effect on the spine could only be rectified by major surgery and now she has been bedridden for almost two and a half years. Thank God she’s now up and about.The tubercle bacillus spreads from the primary area of infection, moves into the bloodstream and gets deposited in the bones. It may take years for the disease to manifest itself. The recuperation is long and arduous. As it has been my experience the germ also becomes resistant and requires a regimen of more antibiotics, a generous and sustained dose of tender loving care and proper nutrition. My dear wife had to fight and both mind and body were put to the extreme test not to speak of us at home who had to support and share in her pain. I want to warn people that the germ, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not the only strain that can infect humans. The strain found in cattle especially dairy cows, the bovine bacillus can also attack us if the milk is not properly boiled or pasteurized. The condition and system of rearing dairy cows in and around the city of Shillong testifies to the potential breeding grounds for TB and other diseases. This is a matter that can no longer be ignored given the rising cases of TB everywhere whether it is the rural or urban areas.
Children are very susceptible to the disease. In many cases they develop immunity to TB but time and again the germ may spread to vital organs especially the meninges or covering of the brain where it causes tuberculosis meningitis. The primary cause would be severe exposure to the tubercle bacilli through inhalation or a lowered body resistance due to malnutrition. This is where my primary concern lies. Government action has to be directed towards building up a support system for children in villages in the rural areas in order for them to get proper nutrition. A small help would be to control the rise of prices of food item especially eggs, meat and fruits. Apart from this the efforts being made by the Social Welfare Department, the Education Department and the Health Department should be coordinated by maybe even creating a special task force comprising of these three departments to tackle lowered resistance of rural children as well the poor in the urban areas. The form of the disease in adults is different. The source of the infection however may be traced many times over to infection during childhood which may be a reactivation of the earlier primary infection of the disease or a new and heavier infection. But what cannot be ignored is the need to build up the resistance of the human body. The availability of free vitamins and other supplements would go a long way to solve the problem.
At the end I have to be true to my profession and here again I reiterate the need for an action plan at the political level. Political parties can play an important role in educating the people to take necessary precautions. Signs of infection like frequent bouts of temperature, listlessness in children, strange aches and pains should be brought to the notice of a doctor. A simple test, the Mantoux test will correctly ascertain if the infection is TB. A blood test for the malaria parasite will help identify the root cause so that proper medicines can be administered. A dedicated and trained party cadre will really help government tackle the menace of these ancient but returning and rising diseases.If NGOs and political parties as well village authorities get together, then many of our problems can be tackled in a cooperative and effective way.