Post-TB health and wellbeing
Rebecca Nightingale, Ffion Carlin, Jamilah Meghji, Kate McMullen, Denise Evans, Marieke M. van der Zalm, Michaile G. Anthony, Márcio Sommer Bittencourt, Anthony Byrne, Karen Du Preez, Marisa Coetzee, C. Feris, Pierre Goussard, Kamban Hirasen, Jade C. Bouwer, Graeme Hoddinott, Moisés A. Huamán, Gakeemah Inglis-Jassiem, Olena Ivanova, Fatima Karmadwala, H. Simon Schaaf, Ingrid Schoeman, James A. Seddon, Tembeka Sineke, Regan Solomons, Marí Thiart, Ronald van Toorn, Paula I. Fujiwara, Kamila Romanowski, Suzaan Marais, Anneke C. Hesseling, James C. Johnston, B W Allwood, Jeremiah Chakaya Muhwa, Kevin Mortimer
Abstract
TB affects around 10.6 million people each year and there are now around 155 million TB survivors. TB and its treatments can lead to permanently impaired health and wellbeing. In 2019, representatives of TB affected communities attending the ‘1 st International Post-Tuberculosis Symposium´ called for the development of clinical guidance on these issues. This clinical statement on post-TB health and wellbeing responds to this call and builds on the work of the symposium, which brought together TB survivors, healthcare professionals and researchers. Our document offers expert opinion and, where possible, evidence-based guidance to aid clinicians in the diagnosis and management of post-TB conditions and research in this field. It covers all aspects of post-TB, including economic, social and psychological wellbeing, post TB lung disease (PTLD), cardiovascular and pericardial disease, neurological disability, effects in adolescents and children, and future research needs.