Is tuberculosis a familial communicable disease? High time to strengthen contact screening

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a highly communicable disease and represents a serious public health problem. In the absence of active case detection and early diagnosis among close contacts of a known TB patient, the family members are at high risk of developing the disease and are the potential source of spread of the disease in the community. Here, we discuss a case of pulmonary TB which stresses on the importance and urgent need for screening all household contacts and for early diagnosis and treatment of all cases and susceptible contacts.