Tuberculosis 101 | Celebrating World Tuberculosis Day

March 24th is the day the World celebrates World Tuberculosis Day. It marks the anniversary of when Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. This year the theme for the day is “Yes! We can end TB!” 

74 million lives have been saved since 2000 thanks to the efforts made to end this deadly condition. In today’s blog, this online consultation with doctors platform takes a look at the disease tuberculosis and how one can help in the efforts to end this condition.

What is Tuberculosis? 

Tuberculosis is a disease that is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although the bacteria affects the lungs primarily, it can also affect the spine, the brain, and the kidneys. 

It spreads through tiny droplets that are released into the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Many strains of tuberculosis are resistant to the drugs used to treat the disease. Hence, one needs to complete one’s course of medication and stay in contact with a medical professional throughout the term. 

What are the signs and symptoms of Tuberculosis? 

Strangely, the TB virus can reside in your body but the immune system prevents it from spreading or becoming active. Hence, doctors make a distinction between two kinds of tuberculosis. They are latent TB and active TB. 

As the name implies, in latent TB the bacterium exists in the body but does not cause infection. However, it may eventually act up and cause problems. 

Active TB occurs when the disease is full-fledged in the body and is infectious to others. Active tuberculosis spreads to others and can occur within weeks or years of infection in the body. 

The signs and symptoms of tuberculosis are as follows: 

  • Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
  • Chills
  • Coughing for three or more weeks
  • Coughing up blood or mucus
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Night sweats
  • Unintentional weight loss

Tuberculosis can occur in other parts of the body, not just the lungs. It can occur in the spine where it causes back pain or it can occur in the kidney where it causes blood in the urine. 

When should you visit a doctor? 

You should consult your doctor if you have low fevers, unexplained weight loss, persistent cough or get drenched in sweat. 

Who is at risk for TB? 

There are some people who are at risk for tuberculosis. They need to be screened for latent TB regularly. These people are: 

  • Are children who are exposed to adults at risk of TB
  • Are from a country where TB is common
  • Are in contact with infected people
  • Live or work in areas where TB is common
  • People who use IV drugs
  • Those who have HIV/AIDS
  • Work in health care and treat people with a high risk of TB

People who have HIV/AIDS are prone to contracting tuberculosis. Their immune system is as it is weak and they usually succumb to the condition very easily. 

What are the complications of TB? 

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease as mentioned. It can also be very fatal if left untreated. There exist other complications of the disease which are as follows: 

  • Spinal pain 

There can be plenty of spinal pain and back pain. These are common complications of tuberculosis. 

  • Joint damage

Tuberculosis can also cause joint damage. The hips and the knees can begin to pain. This called tuberculosis arthritis. 

  • Meningitis

Membranes of your brain can swell up if you have tuberculosis and this can result in headaches and mental changes. 

  • Liver or kidney problems

Tuberculosis can impair the functioning of the liver or the kidney.  

  • Heart disorders

In rare cases, tuberculosis can cause heart failure. Tuberculosis can affect the tissues that surround your heart resulting in inflammation and fluid collection. 

Drug Resistance of TB

Nowadays, however, tuberculosis is slowly becoming drug resistant. There exist strains of tuberculosis that do not respond to drug treatment. This is because people are not taking their medication on time or are not completing the course of the medication. 

When an antibiotic fails to kill all the bacteria that it is exposed to, the bacteria slowly develops resistance to the drug itself, causing it to reproduce new strains that are drug-resistant. Hence Tuberculosis is becoming a very serious condition. 

Conclusion 

At present, the world is fighting the world of bacteria and viruses. They are taking on the unseen world and waging a war. It is recommended that people complete their course of medication so that there is no chance of a relapse or further infection. 

This online consultation with doctors platform helps you to get in touch with the right doctors who can manage the condition properly. So, help the world fight tuberculosis in the right way at the right time.