Intestinal TB on the rise in Himachal’s young adults: IGMC Study urges early diagnosis for better recovery

A recent study by the Gastroenterology Department at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) has spotlighted a troubling trend—intestinal tuberculosis (TB) is affecting more people between 25 and 55 in Himachal Pradesh. The study found that many of these cases go undiagnosed for months, sometimes even years, causing prolonged suffering before patients receive proper treatment.

The research team, led by Dr. Brij Sharma along with Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Dr. Vishal Bodh, Dr. Vineet Sharma, and Dr. Neetu Sharma, examined 234 patients referred from various parts of the state. The data showed that out of the total cases, 151 were men and 83 were women, all diagnosed with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in their intestines.

Common symptoms reported included weight loss and persistent abdominal pain, but since intestinal TB symptoms can be subtle and overlap with other digestive issues, many people don’t realize they’re dealing with a serious infection. By the time they sought medical help, most patients had already been struggling with these symptoms for up to two years.

After patients were diagnosed, they underwent further testing, including CT scans, endoscopy, and colonoscopy, which revealed intestinal ulcers, lesions, and narrowing in the intestines—classic signs of intestinal TB. The good news, however, is that with about six months of treatment, most patients fully recovered, offering hope for others with the condition. This valuable research was recently published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India.

Dr. Brij Sharma and Dr. Vishal Bodh emphasized that awareness and timely intervention are key in fighting this disease. They encouraged people to seek medical advice early if they experience symptoms like weight loss and abdominal pain. Importantly, intestinal TB is not contagious, and with routine check-ups and proper TB medication, 95% of patients are able to recover fully.

The IGMC team hopes this research will raise awareness about intestinal TB, encouraging both the public and healthcare providers to consider it as a potential diagnosis when symptoms persist.