Tea Workers’ Health | TB Complications | Fungal Infections
Alarming Rise of Fungal Lung Disease Among Assam’s Tea Plantation Workers

A recent study from Assam Medical College and Hospital has brought urgent attention to the health of tea plantation workers in the state. The research highlights a high prevalence of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA)—a severe lung infection—especially among survivors of tuberculosis (TB).

🍂 Tuberculosis in Assam: The Underlying Crisis

• TB Incidence: 217 cases per 100,000 people (2019–2021 survey).
• Key Drivers: Malnutrition, poor housing, poverty.
• These conditions are common in tea estates, where workers live and work in vulnerable environments.

🦠 What is Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis?

• Caused by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.
• Affects those with pre-existing lung damage, often post-TB.
• Symptoms: Chronic cough, fatigue, blood in sputum, lung scarring.
• Untreated CPA can be life-threatening and permanently impair lung function.

📊 Study Findings from Dibrugarh, Assam

• Sample size: 128 patients from tea estates.
• CPA Prevalence:
  • Overall: 17.18%
  • Among active TB patients: 18.5%
  • Among post-TB patients: 48.9% – a staggering figure indicating near half of recovered TB patients are at risk.
• Average Age: 41.9 years; middle-aged men were more affected.
• Smoking was noted as a potential factor, though global studies offer mixed findings.

🌍 Global Comparisons

• CPA Prevalence in Assam: 60 per 100,000.
• Global Average: 42 per 100,000.
• Assam’s rates are higher than several African nations, raising alarms about long-term respiratory health in the region.

⚠️ Economic and Social Impact

• Chronic illness = lower workforce productivity in tea plantations.
• Rising medical expenses deepen poverty cycles in affected families.
• Respiratory illnesses can impact entire communities, not just individual patients.

✅ Recommendations for Action

• Routine Aspergillus Antibody Testing post-TB treatment.
• Train health workers to spot early CPA symptoms.
• Incorporate fungal testing in standard post-TB care protocols.
• Strengthen healthcare infrastructure in tea-producing regions.

This study is a wake-up call for India’s TB strategy: fighting the disease doesn’t end with curing TB—it must include preventing its deadly aftermath.