UKHSA issues reminder of symptoms on ‘World TB Day’

On ‘World TB Day’ (Friday 24 March), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding people of the symptoms to look out for. 

Whilst rates of TB in the UK have largely fallen in recent years and the COVID-19 pandemic led to the most dramatic fall since 2000, the latest data shows that this rate of decline is slowing.  

In 2021, a total of 4,421 people in England were notified with TB, an increase of 7% in the number of notifications (4,125) in 2020. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of people notified with TB increased in almost all UKHSA centres. The largest rise was observed in the South East with an increase in numbers of cases of TB of 12% compared with 2020 (from 456 to 510 cases).1 

Husband and wife Darryl and Melanie Evans, originally from Southampton, both contracted TB over a period of several years. In 2012 Darryl, now 66, was working as a builder and found he was getting out of breath easily, had a constant cough and had lost around 2.5 stone over a period of months.  

He said: “I had been fit and strong and it got to the point where I couldn’t work anymore because I couldn’t breathe, and I had to sit down after the slightest activity. I knew there was something seriously wrong. I was a smoker back then and I thought it could be cancer, so after putting it off, I eventually I went to the doctors.” 

He was wrongly diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and after several unsuccessful treatments with antibiotics and steroids, felt like giving up and he started doing his own research. He thought he might have Histoplasmosis (because he kept chickens) or Tuberculosis and returned to his GP and asked to be tested. The same day Darryl was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. The following day Darryl’s treatment started, and he was put on medication for six months. 

He added: “At the start of the treatment I felt broken. The disease just tears the breath right out of you. I can understand why it used to be called ‘consumption’, because it just eats you up.” 

Darryl needed eight months of treatment in total and despite the delay in diagnosis, made almost a complete recovery because he was extremely fit before getting the disease. 

Four years later Darryl’s wife Melanie started noticing similar symptoms and despite Darryl’s history, didn’t think it could be TB. Several months later Melanie tested positive for Tuberculosis. Once diagnosed, she was treated and given medication and thankfully recovered quickly and without significant lung damage.  

Just a year later Darryl’s symptoms returned – he had been reinfected with TB by his wife and sought help immediately. 

The retired builder, who has now moved to North Wales, said: “We felt very well supported by the TB staff and especially the nurses who were absolutely fantastic. My only regret is that I wish I’d have gone to the doctors a lot earlier. Most things sort themselves out, but I waited too long. If I would have gone earlier, I would have a lot less lung damage now.” 

Dr Claire Winslade, health protection consultant for UKHSA South East, said: “Unfortunately, Darryl’s story is not uncommon and we do see delays in patients getting treated because TB is not always initially considered and therefore not tested for. There are excellent TB testing and treatment services in place and patients can make a full recovery if they complete the course of medication. But it’s vital people with symptoms, and GPs and other healthcare professionals think about TB when they see or experience these symptoms.  

“Delayed diagnosis and treatment not only impacts the outcomes for patients themselves, but also ongoing transmission. The longer patients remain untreated, the longer they are potentially spreading the bacteria. This is something that we’re working hard to address with our NHS colleagues.” 

The general symptoms of TB: 

• A lack of appetite and weight loss 

• A high temperature 
• Night sweats 
• Extreme tiredness or fatigue 

Information about symptoms of TB that affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) and TB outside the lungs can be found here: Tuberculosis (TB) - Symptoms - NHS (www.nhs.uk)