global tuberculosis (tb) report (2013) has revealed that an estimated 8.6 million people developed tb of which, india accounts for almost 26% of the cases. these estimates clearly suggest that the country’s efforts to achieve millennium development goal 6 by 2015 have not delivered the desired output. in india, the tb prevention and control activities are supervised and implemented under the re...

Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease, is transmitted by inhalation of droplet nuclei discharged in the air. Revised National Control Programme (RNTCP), now Elimination Program (NTEP) India, has made significant gains strengthening support structures, program architecture, and implementation environment for TB control India. Kass's framework public health includes analytic tool that consists...

In India, on the recommendations of an expert committee, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was pilot tested in 1993 and launched in 1997. It was gradually expanded to cover the whole country by March 2006. Under RNTCP Directly Observed Short-course (DOTS) strategy is used to treat TB patients. Main objectives of RNTCP are to achieve and maintain a cure rate of 85% among ne...

We conducted this study to assess the efficacy of intermittent short course therapy in all forms of pediatric tuberculosis using a coordinated approach with Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). Sixty five children were treated using RNTCP protocols with some modifications, such as dose adjustments or prolongation of treatment in selected children. Overall response rate was 9...

Global Tuberculosis (TB) report (2013) has revealed that an estimated 8.6 million people developed TB of which, India accounts for almost 26% of the cases. These estimates clearly suggest that the country’s efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goal 6 by 2015 have not delivered the desired output. In India, the TB prevention and control activities are supervised and implemented under the Re...

The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) has initiated provision of antitubercular therapy for children with strategy of patient-wise boxes for the 4 different weight bands (6- 10 kg; 11- 17 kg; 18- 25 kg; 26- 30 kg). We evaluated the dose of individual drugs delivered by this approach to children of varying weights. The following areas of concern were identified: underdosing o...

In spite of India's proud heritage of having conquered smallpox and poliomyelitis, the challenge of overcoming the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) of any country in the world may seem unsurmountable. India's extreme population density, especially among the very poor, makes control of TB a uniquely difficult challenge. Control of TB in India is further complicated by the presence of the seco...

In revised national tuberculosis control program (RNTCP), microscopic examination of sputum for AFB plays an important role in the initial diagnosis of tuberculosis. Decontamination and liquefaction with by 5% sodium hypochlorite increases sensitivity and safety for handling specimen. In this prospective hospital based cross sectional analytical study, patients of all ages and either sex coming...

Bright field microscopy of sputum after ZN staining is the backbone of revised national tuberculosis control program (RNTCP) for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. But reduced sensitivity in overburdened RNTCP centers and HIV-TB co-infection necessitates the use of newer modalities to increase the diagnostic yield. A cross sectional prospective analytical study was done from June 2011 to Augu...

India established the National Tuberculosis Control Project (NTCP) 50 years ago and re-designed it as Revised NTCP (RNTCP) 19 years ago. Tuberculosis (TB) control was beset with obstacles-BCG vaccination was found ineffective in TB control in 1979; human immunodeficiency virus began spreading in India since 1984 with TB as the commonest opportunistic disease; multi-drug resistance was found to ...