Tuberculosis

ext">Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection causedshaking the hands of someone who is infected.
by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TheTuberculosis is spread (transmitted) primarily from
bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can alsoperson to person by breathing infected air during
damage other parts of the body. TB spreads throughclose contact.
the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throatTB is an increasing and major world wide problem,
coughs, sneezes or talks. If you have been exposed,especially in Africa where the spread has been
you should go to your doctor for tests. You arefacilitated by AIDS. It is estimated that nearly 1 billion
more likely to get TB if you have a weak immunepeople will become newly infected, over 150 million
system.will become sick, and 36 million will die worldwide
Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillusbetween now and 2020 -- if control is not further
or Tuberculosis) is a common and deadly infectiousstrengthened. Each year there are more than 9 million
disease caused by mycobacteria, mainlycases and close to 2 million deaths attributed to TB;
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis most100,000 of those 2 million deaths occur among
commonly attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) butchildren.
can also affect the central nervous system, theTuberculosis has plagued human beings for millennia.
lymphatic system, the circulatory system, theSigns of tubercular damage have been found in
genitourinary system, bones, joints and even the skin.Egyptian mummies and in bones dating back at least
Other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium bovis,5,000 years. Today, despite advances in treatment,
Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium canetti,TB is a global pandemic, fueled by the spread of HIV
and Mycobacterium microti can also causeAIDS, poverty, a lack of health services and the
tuberculosis, but these species do not usually infectemergence of drug-resistant strains of the bacterium
healthy adults.that causes the disease.
Until 50 years ago, there were no medicines to cureSkin testing for tuberculosis is useful in countries
TB. Now, strains that are resistant to a single drugwhere the incidence of tuberculosis is low, and the
have been documented in every country surveyed;health care system works well to detect and treat
what is more, strains of TB resistant to all majornew cases. In countries where BCG vaccination has
anti-TB drugs have emerged. Drug-resistant TB isbeen widely used, the TB skin test is not useful,
caused by inconsistent or partial treatment, whenbecause persons vaccinated with BCG will have a
patients do not take all their medicines regularly forpositive skin test.
the required period because they start to feel better,TB infection means that MTB is in the body, but the
because doctors and health workers prescribe theimmune system is keeping the bacteria under control.
wrong treatment regimens, or because the drugThe immune system does this by producing
supply is unreliable.macrophages that surround the tubercle bacilli. The
A person can become infected with tuberculosiscells form a hard shell that keeps the bacilli contained
bacteria when he or she inhales minute particles ofand under control. Most people with TB infection
infected sputum from the air. The bacteria get intohave a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test.
the air when someone who has a tuberculosis lungPeople who have TB infection but not TB disease are
infection coughs, sneezes, shouts, or spits (which isNOT infectious, i.e., they cannot spread the infection
common in some cultures). People who are nearbyto other people. These people usually have a normal
can then possibly breathe the bacteria into their lungs.chest x-ray. TB infection is not considered a case of
You don't get TB by just touching the clothes orTB disease.