Doctors say that constant high stress can also have unintended effects on immunity, which can lead to TB
Arjun (name changed) is an engineering student from a well-off family who’d visit the gym regularly. He appeared healthy to everyone until he was recently diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis (TB).
Arjun is one of the many patients from upper middle class families that are being routinely diagnosed with TB. The infection is a sign of reduced immunity and doctors in the city say a combination of factors including smoking, alcohol, stress and diet is making those who otherwise have access to nutritious food vulnerable.
Dr Nilesh Dutt, head of the TB and chest department at VS Hospital, said often the cause of TB in well-off people are alcohol and tobacco.
“Alcohol and tobacco does end up weakening the immune system. TB can spread through the air and if you have a compromised immune system, you too can get it, irrespective of your financial status,” said Dr Dutt, busting the myth that only the poor are susceptible to TB.
Dr Tushar Patel, TB specialist with Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, said, “While it is true that the poor are vulnerable, economic prosperity does not turn into protection against the disease. Anyone with compromised immunity can get TB.”
He said that among his upper middle class patients, one of the primary reasons for reduced immunity is often stress and diet, apart from alcohol and tobacco use. “Constant high stress can have unintended effects on immunity. In women particularly, dieting often leads to the body being deprived of necessary nutrients, thus compromising immunity,” said Dr Patel. He said TB among the well-off is not a new phenomenon: “It was always in existence. Because of more awareness, we are getting to know more about it.”
No separate data is available with the AMC for TB patients according to income level. But officials who monitor the reporting of TB cases by private doctors say not every case is from the slums.
“Notifying the government about TB cases is now mandatory for private practitioners too. We are seeing increased reportage even from areas that are not poor,” said an AMC official.
OTHER FACTORS
- Doctors say that constant high stress can also have unintended effects on immunity, which can lead to TB.
- Dieting also leads to the body being deprived of necessary nutrients, thus making them vulnerable to the diesease, doctors said.
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