Who is commonly affected

The greatest burden of tuberculosis incidence and mortality in India is in adults aged 15 to 60 years, which include the most productive members of society. Almost 70% of TB patient are aged between the ages of 15 and 54 years. While two thirds of the cases are male, TB takes a dispropotionately larger toll among young females, with more than 50% of famale cases occuring before 34 years of age. The disease is even more common among the poorest and marginalized sections of the community.

Poverty, overcrowding and decreased immunity in the host are the predisposing factors for developing the disease. HIV is the most important known risk factor for progression of TB infection to disease.

Deaths due to TB exceed the combined deaths from all other communicable diseases and account for 26% of all avoidable adult deaths. TB is also the leading killer of women, causing more orphans than those produced by all causes of maternal mortality combined.