Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.
The disease is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the atmosphere. Individuals can become infected by inhaling these airborne particles that contain the bacteria.
Symptoms of tuberculosis often include prolonged coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and night sweats. However, in latent tuberculosis infections, where the immune system can prevent the disease from becoming active, the individual usually does not show any symptoms.
To diagnose TB, specialized tests such as a chest X-ray, sputum analysis, and tuberculin skin test may be conducted. The disease is typically treated with a combination of antibiotics that need to be taken over an extended period, often lasting six months or longer. Failure to complete the full course of treatment may lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis remains a significant global health issue, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Efforts to combat the disease involve early diagnosis, effective treatment, improving living conditions, and public health measures such as vaccination and infection control practices.
