Tuberculosis

Everything You Need To Know About Tuberculosis

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe infectious disease. It primarily affects the lungs. Bacteria are responsible for causing tuberculosis and can be released into the air through tiny droplets when someone sneezes or coughs. Breathing through this air can make one infected.

In earlier days, this condition was rare. In 1985, the infection started spreading rapidly due to the emergence of HIV, the virus responsible for spreading AIDS. HIV can make the immune system of the body weak. The body is unable to fight TB. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can help cure the condition. Individuals with active tuberculosis must avoid social interaction and complete the medicine course.

Stages and Types of Tuberculosis

The condition is broadly classified into two types of infections:

  1. Active Tuberculosis: The condition shows active symptoms in the individual carrying the organism. They can transmit the infection to other people.
  2. Latent Tuberculosis: The individual carrying the bacteria does not show any symptoms. Immunity fights the infection and suppresses it to a significant extent. Latent TB is not contagious. The illness cannot be transmitted from one person to another. However, the bacteria can get reactivated. It can become active tuberculosis in the long run.

Tuberculosis can also be classified based on the organs affected. For instance, TB can develop into pulmonary tuberculosis if the lungs are affected. Bladder tuberculosis is a result of bacteria affecting the bladder. Potts's spine is a condition when bacteria attack the spine. Tuberculosis may also affect the skin, brain, and heart.

In some cases, tuberculosis infections are not a result of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis but by organisms referred to as 'Atypical Mycobacterium.' The condition is referred to as:

  • Mycobacterium Avium Complex
  • Mycobacterium kansasii
  • Mycobacterium Fortiutum

Symptoms of Tuberculosis

  • Coughing up blood or mucus
  • Coughing continuously for three or more weeks
  • Chest pain
  • Pain with breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Pain while coughing
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Loss of appetite

Tuberculosis may affect other body parts, including the kidneys, spine, or brain. Tuberculosis of the spine may lead to back pain, while tuberculosis of the kidneys might cause blood in the urine.

Risk Factors of Tuberculosis

Individuals at high risk for developing TB disease can be categorized into the following:

  • Individuals recently infected with TB bacteria
  • Having medical conditions responsible for weakening the immune system
  • Individuals recently infected with TB Bacteria
  • Close contact with individuals having TB disease
  • Getting in touch with individuals who immigrated from parts of the world with high rates of TB
  • Kids under the age of 5 years tested positive for TB

Causes of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread through microscopic droplets released into the air. The bacteria are spread into the air when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, spits, sneezes, speaks, laughs, or sings.

The condition is not contagious but easy to catch from someone you live with or work with. Individuals with active TB who have had drug treatment for 14 days are no longer contagious.

HIV and TB: TB cases dramatically increased after the 1980s due to the spread of HIV. It suppresses the immune system, and the body cannot control TB bacteria. Hence, individuals with HIV are more prone to TB.

Drug-Resistant TB: Tuberculosis is also a result of the increase in drug-resistant strains. Certain types of TB germs have developed the ability to live despite medications. This happens due to negligence on the part of the patient as they do not take their drugs as directed or fail to complete the course of treatment.

Prevention of Tuberculosis

The prevention of TB is better than a cure. Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent the spread of TB completely, following certain measures will significantly reduce the spread of the illness.

Vaccination: Getting the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) live vaccine against tuberculosis is the best way to guard oneself against TB.

Early Diagnosis: As with most health conditions, early diagnosis and treatment is the best way to prevent TB from spreading further. Hence, it is advised to get treatment as early as possible. Patients should also complete the course of medication (two weeks) for complete recovery from the illness.

Allow Natural Light: UV light from the sun kills TB bacteria.

Maintain Hygiene: It is advised to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. This reduces the spread of TB bacteria. The use of protective masks is a great preventative measure against bacteria. Maintain good ventilation systems and social distancing from an infected person.

Boost Immunity: A healthy immune system is known to be the best form of defense against TB. Reports have revealed that around 60% of adults with a healthy immune system can kill bacteria completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. TB is not genetic. It is just a myth. TB was believed to be genetic because it quickly spread to those in the family and among close ones. The condition is caught through bacteria in the air spread by an already infected person.

Most individuals get tested for TB infection after around 8-10 weeks of getting infected. TB infection alone does not show any symptoms. The infection may progress to TB disease or not at all.

A bacterium spreads tuberculosis through the air. An individual with TB disease can spread the bacteria while sneezing, coughing, singing, and speaking into the air. Understanding that bacteria can stay in the air for many hours together is essential. An infection can occur due to prolonged exposure to tuberculosis.

TB usually affects the lungs but can also affect other body parts, such as the brain, kidneys, or spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

An individual with TB disease is contagious until they get appropriate treatment for many weeks. However, an individual with TB infection (not disease) cannot spread the infection to others.

A TB disease can make an individual an active agent in spreading the disease to others. Additionally, an untreated individual may become severely ill. This condition is also fatal.

Individuals treated for TB infection or TB disease in the past can become infected again.

You should get yourself tested if: You have spent time with someone who has infectious TB disease. Born in or frequently traveled to countries where TB disease is common. Live or are employed in a large group setting where TB is common. Are a health care worker caring for patients with TB disease. A part of the population more prone to latent TB infection (LTBI) or TB disease. Children under age 5 with a higher risk of developing TB disease.

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