World Tuberculosis Day

Compliments of the season and kudos for your efforts to educate via your respected weekly column. 24th March was marked as World Tuberculosis Day all over world. Please share simple information to your teeming readers about this disease. Catherine V.   Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. […]

Compliments of the season and kudos for your efforts to educate via your respected weekly column. 24th March was marked as World Tuberculosis Day all over world. Please share simple information to your teeming readers about this disease.

Catherine V.

 

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. About one-third of the world’s population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “people infected with TB bacteria have a 10% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. However, persons with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a much higher risk of falling ill. When a person develops active TB disease, the symptoms (such as cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss) may be mild for many months.”

Who are at risk?

• Tuberculosis mostly affects adults in their most productive years. However, all age groups are at risk. Over 95% of cases and deaths are in developing countries.

• People who are infected with HIV are 20 to 30 times more likely to develop active TB (see TB and HIV section below). The risk of active TB is also greater in persons suffering from other conditions that impair the immune system.

• Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of TB disease and death.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Common symptoms of active lung TB are as follows:

• Cough with sputum and blood at times.

• Chest pains, weakness, weight loss.

• Fever and night sweats.

Sputum smear microscopy is being used to diagnose TB. Trained laboratory technicians look at sputum samples under a microscope to see if TB bacteria are present.

Treatment

TB is a treatable and curable disease. Active, drug-susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard six month course of four antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. Without such support, treatment adherence can be difficult and the disease can spread. The vast majority of TB cases can be cured when medicines are provided and taken properly.

TB and HIV

According to WHO,“at least one-third of people living with HIV worldwide in 2015 were infected with TB bacteria. People living with HIV are 20 to 30 times more likely to develop active TB disease than people without HIV. HIV and TB form a lethal combination, each speeding the other’s progress.

In 2015 about 0.4 million people died of HIV-associated TB. About 35% of deaths among HIV-positive people were due to TB in 2015. In 2015 there were an estimated 1.2 million new cases of TB amongst people who were HIV-positive, 71% of whom were living in Africa.”

WHO recommends a 12-component approach of collaborative TB-HIV activities, including actions for prevention and treatment of infection and disease, to reduce deaths.

 

How to prevent TB

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease. It’s estimated that 1/3 of the world’s population carries the bacteria that causes TB. It is an airborne disease that is passed from person to person when the sufferer coughs, speaks or sneezes. With some care, it can be prevented.

Below are preventive measures:

• Avoid spending long periods of time in enclosed spaces with individuals who have active tuberculosis or who have just begun treatment.

• Seek employment that does not put you into direct contact with those who may be suffering from tuberculosis.

• Use face masks, especially if you work with tuberculosis sufferers or come into contact with one regularly.