Tuberculosis Disease Information

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that most often affects the lungs, but can damage other parts of the body such as the brain, spine and kidneys. The germ Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes the bacterial infection known as tuberculosis. The disease can be fatal without prompt medical care. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that a person with active tuberculosis will infect 10 to 15 other people yearly. Only 5 to 10 percent of the one-third of the world's population the WHO states has tuberculosis will develop the active form of the disease and become infectious.

Transmission

• Tuberculosis, or TB, is spread when a person with the infection present in their lungs or throat, speaks, sings, coughs, or sneezes. Others close to the person will breathe in the bacteria and develop tuberculosis.

Misconceptions

• The Centers for Disease Control states that tuberculosis is not spread through kissing, using the toilet or bed linen of an infected person, sharing a toothbrush, or sharing drinks or foods.

Types

• The two types of tuberculosis are latent TB infection and TB disease. People who have latent tuberculosis infection are not contagious, do not have symptoms, and do not feel sick unless the TB bacterium in their body becomes active. Sufferers will still show a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test regardless of inactivity. People with TB disease are contagious, experience sickness, and have symptoms.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of active tuberculosis include a serious cough that lasts longer than three weeks, coughing up blood or mucus, fatigue and weakness, weight loss, fever, chills, loss of appetite, chest pain and night sweats.

Treatment

• Active tuberculosis disease is treated with a combination of medications. More than one medication is needed because there are so many bacteria present. The medications used to kill the bacteria include isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. People with active TB of the lungs and throat need to stay home to avoid infecting others. The treating physician will determine when the person can resume work or school without risk of contagion. Those with TB can lead a normal life when the disease is not active.

Considerations

• Some strains of tuberculosis are resistant to drug treatment. The condition can still be treated with chemotherapy lasting two years and stronger second-line tuberculosis medications. These drugs are more expensive and cause worse, but manageable, side effects. The World Health Organization states the need for more basic TB control and the implementation of their guidelines to decrease the instances of drug resistant tuberculosis.