India Innovation Summit - Pioneering Solutions for TB Elimination

Why in News?

• India Innovation Summit - Pioneering Solutions for TB Elimination was organized.
• The summit was held on March 18 and March 19, 2025 in New Delhi.
• It was inaugurated by Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.
• The summit was jointly organized by the Department of Health Research - Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The summit aims to accelerate India's progress towards TB elimination by 2025.

About Tuberculosis (TB):

• It is an infectious disease.
• Causative agent: Mainly a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Transmission: Through air.
  • When an infected person coughs, sneezes or spits.
• Organs affected: Mainly the lungs; but can affect other parts of the body too.

Common symptoms:

• Prolonged cough, often lasting three weeks or more
• May include blood-stained sputum
• Chest discomfort or pain, often aggravated by coughing
• Feeling weak and tired
• Short-term weight loss
• Persistent mild fever or intermittent fever
• Excessive sweating during sleep

Treatment:

• Mainly with a combination of antibiotics
• Antibiotics include-
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Ethambutol
  • Streptomycin
• Treatment usually lasts for 4 to 6 months.