What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. TB is spread through the air when a person with active TB of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sneezes.

What are the symptoms of Tuberculosis?

The symptoms of active TB include a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. It's important to see a healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms.

How is Tuberculosis diagnosed?

Tuberculosis is diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. The most common tests include the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST), interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), chest X-rays, and sputum tests to detect TB bacteria.

How is Tuberculosis treated?

Tuberculosis is treated with a course of antibiotics, usually for six to nine months. The most commonly used drugs are isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. It is crucial to complete the entire treatment regimen to prevent the development of drug-resistant TB.

How can Tuberculosis be prevented?

Tuberculosis prevention includes vaccination with the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, especially in countries with high TB incidence. Other preventive measures include avoiding close contact with people who have active TB, ensuring good ventilation in living spaces, and wearing masks in areas where TB is common. People with latent TB infection may also take preventive antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing active TB.

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3.5 Minute

13-07-2024 Team Medicover Public Health

World Tuberculosis Day 2025

Despite being curable and preventable, tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of fatality worldwide. Let's unite in the fight against TB and empower communities with the knowledge and resources needed to overcome this disease!

Every year on March 24th, we commemorate World Tuberculosis Day to remind ourselves that this fatal disease continues to afflict millions worldwide.
This day celebrates Dr. Robert Koch's seminal discovery in 1882, which identified the tuberculosis bacillus and triggered a revolution in the fight against tuberculosis.
TB was a raging epidemic at that time, affecting one out of every seven people.
Tuberculosis in developing countries poses a significant health burden due to limited resources for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, leading to higher rates of transmission and poorer health outcomes.

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Tuberculosis awareness campaigns:

World TB Day 2025 comes with a powerful message - Yes! We can end TB!" - a theme that inspires hope and urges leaders to take bold steps to end the epidemic. This year's TB awareness campaign aims to accelerate progress in the fight against TB. Let us unite, take action, and renew our commitment to ending TB for good.

TB Control Programs:

Tuberculosis control programs aim to reduce TB prevalence and consequences through strategies such as early detection, treatment, vaccination, community education, and improving healthcare infrastructure in affected areas.

Global tuberculosis statistics:

High Burden: TB is one of the top infectious killers worldwide. Each year, millions of people get sick with TB.
Deaths: TB causes a large number of deaths globally. It is estimated that over a million people die from TB every year.
Affected Regions: TB is most common in regions with lower socioeconomic status and limited access to healthcare, such as parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Progress: Efforts to control TB have made progress, but challenges remain, including drug-resistant TB and gaps in healthcare access.
Global Targets: The World Health Organization (WHO) has set targets to reduce TB deaths and new cases by a certain percentage by specific years, aiming for the global elimination of TB as a public health threat by 2030.

Tuberculosis prevention strategies:

TB prevention includes BCG vaccination, prompt diagnosis, and effective treatment.
In healthcare facilities, infection control measures and contact tracing are crucial.
Health education and addressing poverty aim to reduce TB transmission and improve global health outcomes.

Understanding tuberculosis:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB), is a bacteria.
That primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other body parts, such as the brain, kidneys, and spine.
TB is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
TB is a significant public health problem, particularly in developing countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists tuberculosis (TB) as one of the top 10 fatalities worldwide.

Symptoms of TB in Lungs:

Symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) can vary depending on the part of the body that is affected. In most cases, TB primarily affects the lungs and can cause the following symptoms:

Symptoms of TB that affect other parts of the body can include pain or stiffness in the back or neck, headaches, weakness or numbness in the limbs, and coughing up phlegm that contains pus.

It is crucial to highlight that not all tuberculosis infections cause symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease.
You should seek medical assistance to determine if you have TB or another condition if you exhibit any of the symptoms listed above, especially if you have had close contact with someone with TB.
Early diagnosis and treatment of TB can help prevent the spread of the disease and improve outcomes for those infected.

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TB Prevention:

Preventing TB involves a comprehensive approach that includes strategies to reduce the risk of TB transmission, early diagnosis and treatment of TB cases, and preventive therapy for people at high risk of developing TB. Here are some critical components of TB prevention:

TB Vaccination:

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is the only licensed vaccine for TB prevention.
The BCG vaccine is most effective in preventing severe forms of TB in children, but its effectiveness in preventing TB in adults is limited.

TB Early Diagnosis:

Early diagnosis of TB is critical to preventing the spread of the disease.
Diagnostic tests for TB include chest X-rays, sputum, and molecular testing.
If you have symptoms of TB, you should seek medical attention to determine if you have TB or another condition.

The entire course of medication:

In patients with active TB, the most important step is finishing the course.
The TB bacteria may develop resistance to the most potent drugs if you stop the treatment early or skip the doses.
The drug-resistant strains are more difficult to treat and may be fatal to the patient.

Infection control:

To prevent the spread of TB, it is essential to practice suitable infection control measures. This includes covering the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, washing the hands regularly, and avoiding close contact with people with TB.

Stay home
Ventilate the room
Cover your mouth
Wear a face mask

Tuberculosis Patient Support:

we can work towards achieving the global targets for TB control, patient support and ultimately eliminating the disease.
People must take precautionary measures to safeguard themselves and their communities against the disease.

Conclusion:

Together, let us continue to work towards a world where tuberculosis no longer poses a threat and everyone has access to the care and support they need to live a healthy life!

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially severe contagious illness brought on by the Mycobacterium TB bacteria. Though it can affect other regions of the body as well, it mostly affects the lungs. When someone has active TB in their throat or lungs, they can cough, speak, or sneeze, which can spread the disease through the air.

The symptoms of active A chronic cough that lasts longer than three weeks, chest pain, blood in the cough, exhaustion, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. It's essential to see a healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms.

Tuberculosis is diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. The most common tests include:

The Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST).
Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs).
Chest X-rays.
Sputum tests to detect TB bacteria.

Tuberculosis is treated with a course of antibiotics, usually for six to nine months. The medications that are most frequently used are pyrazinamide, rifampin, ethambutol, and isoniazid. It is crucial to complete the entire treatment regimen to prevent the development of drug-resistant TB.

Tuberculosis prevention includes vaccination with the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, especially in countries with high TB incidence. Other preventive measures include:

Avoiding direct contact with TB patients who are actively ill.
Ensuring good ventilation in living spaces.
Wearing masks in areas where TB is common.
People with latent TB infection may also take preventive antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing active TB.