Forced into Medical Isolation: Hong Kong Student Diagnosed with TB Refuses Treatment, Ignoring Isolation Orders
Hong Kong health authorities have ordered an 18-year-old student to enter isolation after he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The student was discharged from a hospital contrary to medical advice earlier this month and had not received the recommended Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.
The Centre for Health Protection announced on Friday that the student, who experienced shortness of breath, persistent coughing, blood in his sputum, fever, and weight loss, was admitted to hospital on May 14 for treatment. The student was eventually confirmed to have TB.
Officials stated that the patient, who had not received the BCG vaccine as recommended by the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, was discharged against medical advice on May 25. He was referred to the Chest Clinic for follow-up because he needed to continue with directly observed treatment. However, he received inadequate treatment and missed scheduled appointments. Despite frequent reminders from clinic medical staff, he only received a brief course of anti-TB treatment.
Short courses of treatment can exacerbate the infection, increasing the risk of transmission, posing a significant public health concern, according to authorities. Typically, treating TB requires at least six months of treatment, as per the Department of Health.
Due to these circumstances, the Centre for Health Protection issued an isolation order for the patient on Friday, and he was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and treatment. Without proper treatment, TB can be fatal in about two-thirds of untreated cases. It can also lead to severe lung damage, chronic symptoms, drug-resistant strains, and the risk of transmission.
In the case of Hong Kong, the highly infectious TB spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits. If untreated, one patient can potentially infect up to 15 people in close contact within a year. Non-adherence to treatment protocols can pose a risk of multidrug-resistant TB strains spreading, and public health authorities may face challenges in contact tracing, testing, and interrupting transmission chains if patients default on treatment and appointments.
The student's disregard for mental health, evidenced by his lack of adherence to treatment protocols for pulmonary tuberculosis, could potentially lead to the spread of drug-resistant strains, a significant concern for mental-health and health-and-wellness in the community. Moreover, the short course of anti-TB treatments received by the student, in contrast to the recommended therapies-and-treatments of at least six months as per the Department of Health, increases the risk of transmission and severe lung damage, highlighting the importance of science and medical advice in managing such health conditions.
