Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major gloobal healthcare issue. The incidence of TB in sub-Saharan Africa is around 350 per 100,000, compared with an incidence of 50 per 100,000 in Europe and approximately 231/100000 in Pakistan. Around 1.7 million people died in 2009 due to TB and the absolute number of cases rises each year due to increasing global population. The emergence of drug resistance, worsening malnutrition in the setting of political instability and civil unrest, and the detrimental effects of HIV coinfection have challenged TB eradication programs worldwide. Historically treatment of TB included exposure to sunlight and was effective particularly in the treatment of lupus vulgaris. The isolation of vitamin D from cod liver oil, which was used to treat TB in 3 the 1930s, led to its widespread use in TB treatment and prevention, until the introduction of effective chemotherapy in the 1950s. The occurrence of drug resistant tuberculosis has necessitated development of new adjuvant or chemo-therapeutic agents. This editorial will discuss whether vitamin D is one such adjuvant treatment.
Page(s):
185-187
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute, Volume: 25, Issue: 3, Year: 2011