Disease in the News: Tuberculosis
Disease in the News – Tuberculosis
HCS/245
June 25, 2013
Tynan Weed
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, TB (tubercle bacillus) or MTB (mycobacterium tuberculosis) is a widespread, and in numerous cases fatal, communicable disease produced by a variety of forms of mycobacteria. The disease is distributed within the air when individuals who are infected with active TB infection sneeze, cough, or pass on breathing fluids throughout the air. Generally infections are asymptomatic, meaning they feel or show no symptoms, and dormant, but then again approximately one in ten dormant infections in the long run move on to the active disease. If left untouched, active TB is fatal to more than half of those infected.
The characteristic warning signs of active TB infection are a constant cough which produces blood- tinted phlegm, temperature, and loss of weight. Infection of other body systems produce a wide array of warning signs. Classification of active TB is dependent upon radiological testing (x-rays of the lungs), as well as microscopic examination and microbiological culture of body fluids. Diagnosis of latent TB relies on the tuberculin skin test, also known as TST and blood tests. Treatment is complex and calls for administration of numerous antibiotics over an extensive period of time. Social contacts, such as family, friends, and co-workers are also examined and treated if necessary.
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise problem in multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) infections. Prevention depends on screening programs and immunization with the bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine. According to the World Health Organization, one-third or approximately 2.5 billion people, of the world's population is believed to have been infected with tuberculosis, with new infections taking place in about 1% of the population each year. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low to middle income countries, and it is among the top three causes of death for women aged 15
HCS/245
June 25, 2013
Tynan Weed
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, TB (tubercle bacillus) or MTB (mycobacterium tuberculosis) is a widespread, and in numerous cases fatal, communicable disease produced by a variety of forms of mycobacteria. The disease is distributed within the air when individuals who are infected with active TB infection sneeze, cough, or pass on breathing fluids throughout the air. Generally infections are asymptomatic, meaning they feel or show no symptoms, and dormant, but then again approximately one in ten dormant infections in the long run move on to the active disease. If left untouched, active TB is fatal to more than half of those infected.
The characteristic warning signs of active TB infection are a constant cough which produces blood- tinted phlegm, temperature, and loss of weight. Infection of other body systems produce a wide array of warning signs. Classification of active TB is dependent upon radiological testing (x-rays of the lungs), as well as microscopic examination and microbiological culture of body fluids. Diagnosis of latent TB relies on the tuberculin skin test, also known as TST and blood tests. Treatment is complex and calls for administration of numerous antibiotics over an extensive period of time. Social contacts, such as family, friends, and co-workers are also examined and treated if necessary.
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise problem in multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) infections. Prevention depends on screening programs and immunization with the bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine. According to the World Health Organization, one-third or approximately 2.5 billion people, of the world's population is believed to have been infected with tuberculosis, with new infections taking place in about 1% of the population each year. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low to middle income countries, and it is among the top three causes of death for women aged 15
References: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (March 2013). Novel Tuberculosis Therapeutic: SQ109. Retrieved June 24, 2013, from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dmid/success/pages/sq109.aspx World Health Organization (February 2013). Fact Sheet N 104. Retrieved June 23, 2013 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html Zumla, M.D., Ph.D., A. (February 2013). Tuberculosis. Retrieved June 24, 2013, from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1200894