Why sudden increase in Melioidosis cases in India?
Written By : Dr. Nandita Mohan
Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2022-09-19 04:15 GMT | Update On 2022-09-19 12:18 GMT
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Melioidosis is also called "the great mimicker" of tuberculosis and other diseases and there is an urgent need to create awareness among clinicians and microbiologists. Lack of experience of such diseases, without clinical clues or familiarity with the disease, possibly was the reason for rare reporting according to a review in Journal of Associations of Physicians in India.
A 5 year retrospective study of case records of only 20 patients out of 34 proven melioidosis were traced. Twelve of them have died in hospital. Melioidosis is a life-threatening fatal disease but potentially curable. Researchers say there can be a decrease in the mortality rate to less than 10% with faster bacterial confirmation, appropriate antibiotics, and good hospital care.
If I talk about the disease- it is common in tropical climates with hot, humid, and higher rainfall and wind. The bacteria usually persist in the soil. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, prolonged glucocorticoid therapy, and chronic liver or renal disease are more prone to developing melioidosis.
Melioidosis is much more commoner than ever believed to be diagnosed in tropical countries like India, the diabetic capital of the world. This disease is grossly underreported in the tropical regions in India, probably due to a lack of awareness and multiple symptoms that imitate other conditions without specific identifying features. Even if diagnosed at times, it is already too late or after death only.
The signs and symptoms of melioidosis mimic other diseases like tuberculosis, used to delay the diagnosis and ultimately management of melioidosis.
Therefore, the importance of awareness and knowledge of this disease entity is of great importance. The treatment regimen consists of early aggressive antibiotics for weeks and is followed by prolonged maintenance, which is quite different from other acute bacterial diseases. So the authors concluded that many patients die due to non-diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or inadequate and incorrect treatment.
Reference: Prasanta Raghab Mohapatra; Increasing Melioidosis Cases in India; SEPTEMBER – 2022, VOLUME : 70; JAPI.
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