TUBERCULOSIS DURING THE COVID-19: IMPACT, CHALLENGES AND MANAGEMENT

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused substantial disruptions to health services due to overburdening the health system. Hence, there are severe obstructions in tuberculosis (TB) services in India's primary health care and hospital settings. Several restrictions, such as lockdown, self-isolations, and other public health guidelines to prevent viral transmission, impacted the delivery of essential facilities for TB management. A significant reduction in tuberculosis testing in the public health sector has been noticed, which is an alarming situation in India. However, there are several risks in managing TB due to rising cases of COVID-19 but maintaining the most critical prevention activities and healthcare services for tuberculosis could substantially reduce the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review focuses on the impact and challenges of COVID-19 on tuberculosis. Further, the strategies to eradicate tuberculosis in the era of COVID-19 are also discussed.