key: cord-1006435-nzd15vab
authors: Iyengar, Karthikeyan P.; Jain, Vijay Kumar
title: Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in India-double trouble!
date: 2020-07-17
journal: Indian J Tuberc
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2020.07.014
sha: af1e3b13cf6080f2c83dea245dd8101cef505608
doc_id: 1006435
cord_uid: nzd15vab

• COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Tuberculosis diagnosis, surveillance and management. • COVID-19 and Tuberculosis has spelled double trouble for India. • Simultaneous testing of the for both TB and COVID-19 is required on suspicion. • Telemedicine has definite role in monitoring, contact tracing and remote management of TB patients and COVID-19 disease in the current senario.

. Hence as we confront challenges due to COVID-19, national programmes to combat TB need to be actively engaged ensuring an effective, rapid response to COVID-19 whilst maintaining TB services. The following challenges and strategies need to be addressed to confront these dual diseases together. 

The need to avoid face to face consultations during the COVID -19 pandemic to reduce the risk of viral transmission has been acknowledged.

However, expansion of telemedicine facilities such as e-Sanjeevani, a Government of India, integrated telemedicine initiative can fill the vacuum left due to lack of OPD facilities and will limit the need of hospital visits. Smartphone technology applications can be expanded to play a key role in assessment, monitoring, contact tracing and remote management of TB patients as it is being undertaken for COVID-19 disease in the current pandemic [4] . should be performed on atypical presentation of symptoms in patients and high index of suspicion will facilitate concurrent management.

COVID-19 and Tuberculosis has spelled double trouble for India. There is a concern that as efforts are diverted to fight the emergent COVID-19 health crisis, there is delay in the treatment of TB patients and that there may be a surge in number of TB patients once the lockdown restrictions are lifted. Response to COVID-19 pandemic should be run simultaneously and not affect the continuity of essential TB national programs.

Central Tuberculosis Division

COVID-19 and applications of smartphone technology in the current pandemic

COVID-19 in Tuberculosis patients: a report of three cases

COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Tuberculosis diagnosis, surveillance and management 2. COVID-19 and Tuberculosis has spelled double trouble for India

Simultaneous testing of the for both TB and COVID-19 is required on suspicion 4. Telemedicine has definite role in monitoring, contact tracing and remote management of TB patients and COVID-19 disease in the current senario