WE WANT YOU TO CLICK HERE 10 FACTS ABOUT TB many people will not know this and so this is an awareness campaign to call for better measures to diagnose and treat tuberculosis all over the world.
The reason for the dramatic change in Dr Bose’s appearance is that, due to personal tragic circumstances, he will be undertaking a sponsored beard shave on 21 September to raise awareness and funds for TB Alert – a charity that supports TB projects around the world and promotes awareness of Tuberculosis.
Dr Bose’s wife, Anjali (a doctor herself), is seriously ill in hospital with ‘Disseminated Tuberculosis’ after being treated for Rheumatoid arthritis with strong drugs which suppresses immunity. This group of drugs (Anti TNF) for arthritis and other auto-immune diseases carries a risk of infection from silent killers such as TB. As Anjali had a BCG mark and her chest x-ray was normal, it was assumed that she had low risk of having latent TB and treatment went ahead. For a while, her condition appeared to improve, however, the drugs suppressed her immune system and Anjali developed a terrible fever. After a CT scan, Anjali was diagnosed with disseminated TB which indicates spread of TB in more than one area of the body. Biopsy of Lymph nodes behind her breast bone, confirmed the diagnosis. No one knew, including Anjali, that she had latent TB although more rigorous tests could have been done to detect it. Hence, tuberculosis is referred to as a silent killer. Anjali is requiring prolonged admission in the hospital because her weak liver, made even weaker by the disease, is finding the strong TB medication very toxic. Depending on which combination of drugs she tolerates, her treatment might even be extended beyond a year, something which was completely preventable with better testing of the disease. Despite the taboo surrounding TB in many parts of the world, particularly among the Asian communities, Dr Bose and his wife Anjali have volunteered to make their condition public only to raise awareness about this disease.
Many people think TB is a disease of the past; that it has been eradicated. Years ago, it was called consumption and many artisans contracted the disease, such as George Orwell, the Bronte sisters, DH Lawrence, Vivien Leigh, Dylan Thomas and Chopin. Ringo Starr was treated for the illness when he was 11; Tom Jones was bedridden for a year after being gripped by TB. Jeremy Paxman led our Radio 4 appeal after learning several members of his family were struck by the disease, whilst filming BBC TV show ‘Who Do You Think You Are?” The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu recovered from TB when he was a teenager and was so affected by the disease. He remains as TB Alert’s Patron, despite recently retiring from public life.
TB statistics are staggering. Tuberculosis currently kills 1.7 million people each year, that’s three people a minute. There are more new cases in the UK than HIV, leukaemia or stomach cancer. Globally, TB is amongst the greatest causes of death among women aged 15-44. The Midlands has fast become a TB hot spot and has the 2 highest incidence rate, after London. There is still a profound lack of awareness of TB among the population and the medical fraternity as documented by a case in Midlands where 4 hospitals failed to diagnose TB in a teenager and she lost her life needlessly. More appropriate tests should be done in suspicious cases and particularly in patients who are immunosuppressed. TB can affect all parts of the body from the brain to the foot.
Dr Bose, a warm and charismatic family man (fondly referred to as Dip) will undergo the first stage of his dramatic transformation on 21 September, whereupon ¼ of his beard will be shaved off. His beard will systematically be removed in chunks and Dip will spend the whole day with a patchwork beard, in a bid to raise his pledge of £1000 for TB Alert. His 19 year old son, Abhi, will join his father, by also going under the razor bit by bit.
It is hoped Dip and Abhi will be supported on the day by a barbershop quartet, a celebrity hairdresser and a supermarket giant.
Please help Dip and Abhi raise awareness of Anjali’s plight and the 1.7 million around the world, who are also suffering.
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