Air-borne tuberculosis can be transmitted from one person to another person due to smoking of the traditional “shisha” water pipe This is happening in Egypt. The pipe-sharing with someone infected with tuberculosis can cause a non-infected person to suffer from the disease. This was particularly true in the case of adolescents. Water-pipe smoking is also prevalent in Turkey, Arabian Peninsula, India, Pakistan as well as other countries.
” Shisha” smoking is Egyptian culture and people share the pipe. They smoke and inhale tobacco through the pipe. The mouthpiece can be changed, but the tube is the same. Also the water remains the same and is infected by bacteria. Disease can spread through it. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that 17 per cent of TB cases in the eastern part of Mediterranean were due to smoking through water- pipes.
Many young people have started water-pipe smoking. Health professionals in the U.S are not so familiar with the hazards that this form of smoking can pose. As a result, health care providers do face a problem in handling many adolescents. Health hazards are quite similar to those caused due to smoking such as malignancy, low birth weight etc.
Water-pipe smoking is also known as narghile. It also has different names such as goza, hookah, hubblebubble. Its origins are traced to India, although some claim it was initially used in Persia, South Africa, Ethiopia or perhaps other countries.
Water-pipe smoking is gaining ground as many feel it is safer than cigarette smoking. It is easily available and the cost is also low. It is popular among retired and elderly people.
Water-Pipe smoking is spreading tuberculosis in Egypt and obviously the Government there is much concerned about the spread of the disease. This phenomenon also needs to be addressed to by other countries as well, where such kind of smoking is prevalent. More awareness is being created about the hazards of this smoking practice.
