"INVEST TO END TUBERCULOSIS. SAVE LIVES" is the theme for this year's WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY. 24th March is a day worldwide which has been set aside to create awareness to the public about the need to end this deadly disease.
BASIC FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TUBERCULOSIS
Fact #1
Tuberculosis(TB) is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis which affects the lungs and can also spread to other parts of the body. This disease is contagious and life threatening when in the active stage.
DID YOU KNOW THAT TB CAN BE TRANSMITTED PRIMARILY FROM PERSON TO PERSON?
This bacteria is spread through the air when people infected with the disease cough, sneeze, spit or speak.
Fact #2
TB infection is one of the most common infections and has been reported to be the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 2 billon people (about one fourth of the world’s population) are infected with M. tuberculosis. Every year, It is estimated that nearly 2 billion people are infected with M. tuberculosis worldwide.10 million people develop TB disease and 1.6 million people die of it.
Fact #3
There are 2 phases of TB infection which are ;
The latent TB : Your immune system keeps the bacteria from spreading ,no symptoms and you are not contagious though the infection is still alive and may progress to the active phase depending on one's immune system.
Active TB : 90% of active TB are as a result of progression of latent TB infection. A person who has been infected with the bacteria may develop active TB disease weeks or years after infection depending on their immune system. Many people with latent TB infection never develop active TB disease.
Fact #4
Symptoms associated with this infection can vary from mild symptoms for many months before progressing to the more severe stage. These symptoms include;
Persistent cough of up to 3 weeks
Chest pain
Phlegm, which may have blood in it when you cough
Fatigue
Fever
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Fact #5
Risk factors associated with TB include;
Travelling to areas predisposed to this infection e.g. Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Russia
Being in close contact with one who is infected
People living with HIV/AIDS
Occupational exposure e.g. health care workers, people who work in nursing homes or correctional centers where the infection maybe common.
Smokers
Children exposed to adults with TB
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE RATE OF DEVELOPING ACTIVE TB IS HIGHER IN PATIENTS WITH:
Immunodeficiency
Severe kidney disease
Cancer treatment e.g. chemotherapy
Organ transplant medications
Low birth weight & poor nutrition
Fact #6
Certain test can be carried out to diagnose for TB which include:
Skin test (Mantoux tuberculin) : This test is used mainly for latent TB where a small amount of substance called PPD tuberculin is injected into the skin of your forearm. It's also called the tuberculin skin test (TST). After the substance has been injected, the presence of a small hard red bump at the injection site indicates you have latent TB and this usually takes about 48 to 72 hours of having done the test.
Blood test : Blood tests can serve as a confirmatory test to rule out latent or active tuberculosis. These tests measure your immune system's reaction to TB bacteria. Blood test can be useful if you're at high risk of TB infection but have a negative response to the skin test, or in a case where you've recently received the BCG vaccine.
Treatment involved in this disease depend on:
The person's age and medical history
Whether it's a latent or an active TB
If the TB strain is drug resistant
Anti TB drugs used include: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE vaccine called the BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) vaccine?
This vaccine which is given in countries with high prevalence of TB to prevent childhood TB though it's not recommended in countries like United States because of the low risk of infection.
Fact #7
Some complications associated with TB include;
Liver or kidney problems
Lung damage
Joint damage
Inflammation of tissues around the heart
Swelling of the brain membrane (Meningitis)
Spinal pain
Fact #8
When one has already been infected certain measures can be taken to prevent the spread of the infection;
Always cover mouth with tissue when coughing
Take medications as prescribed by your doctor
Regular visits to your doctor
Wash hands after coughing or sneezing
Avoid visiting people and vice versa
Use a fan or open windows to allow for circulation of fresh air
References
Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD on June 27,2020.
Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis(s for Disease Control and Prevention2016).Module02.Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis(TB) - Diagnosis - NHS( last reviewed 12th November,2019) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/diagnosis
Basic TB facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm. Accessed Mar. 22, 2022
AskMayoExpert. Tuberculosis, Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic; 2021
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