(February 1, 2023) Prince of Songkla University Organize a press conference on Prince of Songkla University’s research findings that in the area there are cases of tuberculosis. Patients with pneumonia due to a COVID-19 infection There was a risk of pulmonary tuberculosis in meeting room 1, the President’s Office. Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. eClinical Medicine which is a medical journal affiliated with the globally recognized Lancet group This research is the work of Dr Polkrit Khamvicha, Department of Epidemiology. Faculty of Medicine Prince of Songkla University, with Professor Dr. Weerasak MD Jongsowiwatwong as a consultant who has conducted a research study based on data from patients infected with COVID-19 and have symptoms of pneumonia The risk of tuberculosis is as high as 7 times more than normal people.
By studying data from COVID-19 patients during the year 2021 where there was an outbreak of Delta and Alpha types in the area of Health Region 12, which includes 7 southern provinces, namely Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala , approximately more than 20,000 people, supported by research data from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.
Dr Polkrit Khamvicha spoke about the origin of this research having carried out a research project to collect follow-up data on tuberculosis drug intake around the beginning of January 2022 from rough treatment history Of the volunteer patients in each case, it was found that most TB patients had a history of receiving inpatient treatment of COVID-19, which is basically about 1 in 3 Thai people who are infected with TB but have no other symptoms. and not infecting others It is called latent tuberculosis. Therefore, Thailand is still an area where tuberculosis is spreading. Even in everyday life, it is not common to see anyone suffering from tuberculosis. Because normal people’s immunity can control tuberculosis from causing disease. Therefore, it is suspected that COVID-19 can weaken the immune system of an infected person. from exhaustion of the immune response to COVID-19 especially in cases of pneumonia This makes people at greater risk of tuberculosis. Therefore, the registration data for COVID-19 and tuberculosis were studied retrospectively to compare the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among patients with pneumonia associated with COVID-19. hospital discharges and the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among people without evidence of ever having been infected with COVID-19. By following the data of each patient for at least 6 months, it was found that patients with pneumonia COVID-19 After receiving good treatment and leaving the hospital The risk of pulmonary tuberculosis is 7 times higher than the general population.
Professor Dr. Weerasak Jongsowiwatwong course chair of the Epidemiology Department of the Faculty of Medicine Prince Songkla University said that tuberculosis is a disease that is still a problem in Thailand. but a disease that can be cured and not a terrible disease knowing that there is a risk of tuberculosis It must be treated as soon as possible from the outset and screened Most of the patients at risk of tuberculosis are patients who have infected with HIV and diabetic patients. From the results of this research, it was found that patients with pneumonia caused by the infection of COVID-19 It is also a risk group. which people at risk should have to take care of themselves AND see a doctor for ongoing follow-up. And the public health system has to take special care of this group of people.
