The Determinants of the Long-term Impacts of Tuberculosis in Poverty-stricken Areas

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite the developments of treatments and various methods to diagnose it, it remains a large threat, especially in underdeveloped, crisis-affected, or low-income countries. As numbers of drug-resistant strains increase, these countries are at greater risk. Various factors that are present in such countries affect the increase in the prevalence of TB, including lack of healthcare and education, high HIV prevalence, pollution, and migration. These factors magnify the long-term effects in crisis-affected and low-income countries, which include both physical, emotional, and financial losses. TB leads to decreased lung function even after successful treatment, requiring the individual to pay for continued medical care. This poses a great financial concern for those in low-income countries where patients may face unemployment and loss of savings. Therefore, more research is required to improve the accessibility of TB treatments and diagnostic exams.