Tuberculosis
Overview of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs and cause pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB). But, it is not limited to the lungs and Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, Tuberculosis (TB) disease can be fatal. Tuberculosis disease was once the leading cause of death in USA.
PrevalenceTuberculosis is a major cause of illness and death worldwide, especially in Asia and Africa. According to WHO estimates, globally, 9.2 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths from Tuberculosis (TB) occurred in 2006, of which 0.7 million cases and 0.2 million deaths were in HIV-positive people.1 Population growth has boosted these numbers compared with those reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) for previous years. More positively, the number of new cases per capita appears to have been falling globally since 2003, and in all six WHO regions except the European region, where the rates are approximately stable. If this trend is sustained, WHO estimates that Millennium Development Goal 6, to have halted and begun to reverse the incidence of TB, will be achieved well before the target date of 2015.
Mode of Transmission of Tuberculosis
Mode of transmission of tuberculosis
The mode of transmission of Tuberculosis (TB) is through the air from one person to another. When a person with active Tuberculosis (TB) sneezes or coughs, he or she releases an aerosol with thousands of particles into the air surrounding him or her.
Diagnosis of Tuberculosis
Diagnosis of tuberculosis
Clinically a person with latent Tuberculosis (TB) will not have any symptoms. A person with active TB will have a history of chronic coughing for more than a few weeks, blood in sputum, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue and weakness.
HIV and TB
HIV and TB
An immunocompromised host is a very good candidate for Tuberculosis (TB) infection and development of the active disease. HIV weakens the immune system and thus allows for the development of Tuberculosis (TB).
Multi-drug resistant to tuberculosis
Multi drug resistant to tuberculosis
Like, all the other diseases, resistance to drugs has become one of the major concerns in the management of Tuberculosis (TB). Now, strains that are resistant to a single drug have been documented in every country surveyed; what is more, strains of tuberculosis resistant to all major anti-TB drugs have emerged.
TB-Worldwide Strategies
TB-Worldwide strategies
Directly Observed Therapy Strategy commonly referred as DOTS was a strategy launched by the WHO in 1995 to combat the spread of Tuberculosis (TB). Since its launch, more than 22 million patients have been treated under DOTS-based services.
Conclusion for Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis has been a worldwide problem that has been brought to control thanks to WHO’s DOTS and Stop Tuberculosis (TB) strategies and more aggressive surveillance methods. Although new multi-drug strains are emerging and new disease associations like HIV are throwing up new challenges for the health community, there is still hope that the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) will ultimately be won.
We can contribute to the fight by ascertaining proper hygiene and if we know of any patients on antitubercular therapy, ascertaining that they take the medication continuously as scheduled. This way Tuberculosis (TB) can be eradicated and make the world a better place to live in.
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: July 11, 2011