COVID-19 PANDEMIC- A PERFECT STORM FOR TUBERCULOSIS MANAGEMENT IN INDIA; THROUGH THE EYE OF A RADIOLOGIST

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the Impact of COVID -19 on tuberculosis in India and various imaging features tuberculosis on HRCT chest in post COVID era and compare it with pre COVID times MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a total of 2788 HRCT thorax scans were done in our center in four months (April- July) of each pre-COVID (2019), COVID (2020), and post COVID (2021) times were included and evaluated for typical features of tuberculosis. RESULTS: Most of the scans- 1889 (67.75%) belonged to patients of age group between 30-50 years. Total of 354 scans out of 2788 revealed features suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. 4.94%, 9.25% and 22.34% thorax scans had features suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis in the pre-COVID, COVID era, post COVID era respectively in year wise manner representing signicantly the increased prevalence of tuberculosis in post COVID times.. Centrilobular nodules with linear branching opacities giving tree in bud appearance (63.8%) constituted the most frequent nding followed by patchy consolidations (46.1%). Imaging features in the majority of the scans revealed features of reactivation of tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: COVID - 19 and lockdown restrictions have a signicant impact on prevention, treatment, and monitoring & TB surveillance strategies nationally and globally and caused signicantly increased prevalence of tuberculosis in a post COVID era.