Mahshid Nasiri, the national manager of the tuberculosis control program, stated on Wednesday, October 21, regarding the status of tuberculosis in Iran and the process of identifying patients with this disease: According to estimates from the World Health Organization, the incidence of tuberculosis in the country is about 10 cases per 100,000 population per year. She noted that the reported incidence differs from the actual incidence of the disease, and statistical methods should be used to estimate the actual number of patients.
Increase in the Share of Non-Iranian Nationals Among TB Patients
Nasiri referred to an interesting statistic, stating that in 2021, about 18 percent of tuberculosis patients in the country were non-Iranian nationals, which has increased to about 25 percent in recent years. This increase in the share of non-Iranian nationals has gained more importance, especially after the political and social changes in Afghanistan and the wave of migration to Iran. Nasiri added: Providing diagnostic and treatment services to this group of patients is essential not only from a humanitarian perspective but also for protecting the public health of the country.
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The Need to Build Trust for Identifying Patients
The national manager of the tuberculosis, leprosy, and acute respiratory infections control program at the Ministry of Health further emphasized the importance of building trust among individuals for the implementation of diagnostic and screening programs. She stated that diagnosing tuberculosis usually requires examining symptoms and conducting specialized tests, and conditions must be created for individuals to seek diagnosis and treatment without worrying about potential consequences.
Nasiri pointed out the successes of the country's health system in controlling tuberculosis over the past decades, noting that the incidence of this disease in Iran is lower than in neighboring countries. However, she mentioned threats that could affect these achievements, including social and economic conditions, migration, and disruption in access to services.
Estimation of TB Infection Cases
The national manager of the tuberculosis control program also mentioned the existence of about 15 million people in the country who are infected with tuberculosis, stating that these individuals are considered potential reservoirs of the disease. Nasiri added: There is a possibility of this infection becoming active if the immune system weakens over a lifetime, and given the aging population and chronic diseases, this issue has become one of the concerns of the tuberculosis control program.
Nasiri concluded by emphasizing the importance of paying attention to risk factors that can disrupt immune system function and activate tuberculosis infection. Malnutrition, diabetes, tobacco addiction, and chronic respiratory diseases are among these factors that can complicate the control of tuberculosis.
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