Ukraine in the lead in tuberculosis incidence in Europe - Kuzin

Ukraine has taken the first place in Europe in terms of the number of tuberculosis cases. This was stated by an epidemiologist, public health specialist and chief state sanitary doctor of Ukraine, Ihor Kuzin, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

moreover, he pointed out that many Ukrainians who catch the disease are diagnosed with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, which is poorly amenable to treatment.

Unfortunately, we are the leaders in the European region in both "ordinary" and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The latter is tuberculosis that cannot be treated with standard therapies. It needs to be treated longer and a wider range of medicines should be used," he said.

At the same time, Kuzin urged Ukrainian citizens to take a responsible attitude to their health and undergo tests for the disease at the slightest suspicion. He pointed out that this can be done by a family doctor. The doctor will issue a referral for tests based on the questionnaire, and their results will be known in a few days.

Kuzin stressed that Ukraine is practicing the European method of treatment of the disease, which implies fast and effective healing, when a person does not have to leave work and relatives for a long time.

He added that tuberculosis treatment in Ukraine is free of charge, and recovery takes from 6 to 9 months.

First a few weeks in hospital, then at home, when a person no longer carries the bacterium to others, - explained the doctor-epidemiologist.

Kuzin pointed out that in 2023, 19,800 cases of active tuberculosis were registered in the country, 639 among children under 14 years old.

But this is not all the data, because now there are no statistics on the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, - he noted.

Tuberculosis is transmitted by airborne (from a sick person to a healthy person - when coughing, sneezing or talking, patients release bacteria into the air), by contact (through door handles, handrails and railings in transport and premises).

The disease is dangerous because it affects the respiratory system. The bones, skin, lymphatic, genitourinary, nervous and lymphatic systems, as well as other organs and systems are less susceptible to tuberculosis. The most frequent complications of pulmonary tuberculosis include pulmonary haemorrhage, tuberculous pleurisy, tuberculous pneumonia, miliary tuberculosis (spread of tuberculous infection to other organs and systems), development of pulmonary decompensated heart.

Common symptoms of active pulmonary tuberculosis include cough (sometimes with sputum and blood), chest pain, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.