Overview
Tuberculosis (TB) overview, cause, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment
𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 (𝐓𝐁) 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 
𝐌𝐲𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬. It primarily affects the lungs, but can also infect other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, or spine. TB is a major global health threat, with an estimated 10 million people falling ill with the disease each year and 1.5 million dying from it.𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝟐𝟐𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫.
𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞
TB is mainly through the inhalation of droplets containing the bacteria 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬, 𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬. People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting TB, including those 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐈𝐕/𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒, 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, and lack of access to healthcare also contribute to the spread of TB.
𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬
Tuberculosis can vary depending on the part of the body affected, but common symptoms include a 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 (𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬), 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞, 𝐟𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬. TB can be latent, where the bacteria are in the body but not causing symptoms, or active, where the bacteria are causing symptoms and can be spread to others.
𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬
TB usually involves a combination of tests, including a 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐗-𝐫𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭. A skin test called the Mantoux test can also be used to determine if a person has been exposed to TB. If TB is suspected, seeking medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment is important.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
It can be achieved through several measures, including vaccination with the 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞-𝐆𝐮é𝐫𝐢𝐧 (𝐁𝐂𝐆) vaccine, improving living conditions to reduce overcrowding and improve ventilation, early detection and treatment of cases, and promoting good respiratory hygiene such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
TB involves a combination of antibiotics taken over a period of 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬. It is essential to complete the full course of treatment to ensure the bacteria are completely eradicated and to prevent drug resistance. 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠-𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐁 is a growing concern, as the bacteria can develop resistance to the antibiotics used to treat the disease.
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of TB, seek medical attention for proper diagnosis, and adhere to treatment to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure successful recovery. Preventive measures such as 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 are also essential in the fight against TB.