The Health Blog

Tuberculosis, otherwise known as “TB”, is said to be one of the oldest diseases known to affect humans. The disease is more prevalent in developing countries (most areas in Asia and Africa). Here are some of the important things you need to know about tuberculosis:

1. The diseases is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a species of bacteria which is highly pathogenic to humans.

2. M. tuberculosis is most commonly transmitted from a patient with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis to other persons by droplet nuclei, which are aerosolized by coughing, sneezing or speaking. The tiny droplets dry rapidly; the smallest (<5 to 10 μm in diameter) may remain suspended in the air for several hours and may gain direct access to the terminal air passages when inhaled.

3. Raw milk can contain a Mycobacterium species (M. bovis) from tuberculous cow and may cause tuberculosis to humans when a contaminated, unpasteurized milk was drunk.

4. Left untreated, each person with active TB disease will infect on average between 10 and 15 people every year. However, people infected with TB bacilli will not necessarily become sick with the disease. The immune system “walls off” the TB bacilli which, protected by a thick waxy coat, can lie dormant for years. When someone’s immune system is weakened, the chances of becoming sick are greater. Someone in the world is newly infected with TB bacilli every second. Overall, one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with the TB bacillus. (WHO)

5. The immune status of a person affects the pathogenesis of TB. If the body’s resistance is low because of aging, infections such as HIV, malnutrition, or other reasons, the bacteria may break out of hiding and cause active TB.

6. Tuberculosis is mainly a disease of the lungs but it can also affect almost any other body organ, such as the kidneys or the spine. A person whose TB is not in the lungs or
throat usually cannot spread TB to other people.

7. Early symptoms of active TB can include weight loss, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. Symptoms may be vague, however, and go unnoticed by the affected person. For some, the disease either goes into remission (halts) or becomes chronic and more debilitating with cough, chest pain, and bloody sputum.

8. Tuberculosis is curable with appropriate treatment. Treatment drugs are combinations of antibiotics that can particularly treat the causative agent and lasts for 6 months, sometimes may last for 12 months.

9. Patient’s compliance and patient-health care relationship are very important factors in the success of treatment.

10. TB is largely a preventable disease, and adequate ventilation is the most important measure to prevent its transmission in the community. Avoiding close contacts with infected persons can also prevent the transmission of the disease. WHO recommends that infants receive a vaccine called BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin) made from a live weakened bacterium related to M. tuberculosis. BCG vaccine prevents M. tuberculosis from spreading within the body, thus preventing TB from developing.

Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Health Department