Palliative Care in DR-TB

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illnesses, through prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, impeccable assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems.

The goal of such treatment is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. 

Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) remains a life-threatening condition with high mortality and poor cure rates, considering this palliative care is more relevant in DR-TB patients. Palliative care is being considered under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) for DR-TB patients who have advanced disease and reduced lung functions. The approach involves systematically engaging institutes with expertise in palliative care (public as well as private facilities) for providing such care to needy TB patients.

The benefits of DR-TB patients receiving palliative care are as follows:

• Provides relief from respiratory distress, pain and other symptoms.
• Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process and intends neither to hasten nor postpone death. 
• Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care.
• Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
• Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their bereavement.
• Enhances quality of life and may also positively influence the course of illness.

Resources

• Companion Handbook to the WHO Guidelines for the Programmatic Management Of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis, 2014. 
• Guidelines for Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis in India, 2021.

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