Tuberculosis: TB Causes, Symptoms, Cures and Prevention Strategies

Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that affects the lungs. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogenic bacteria responsible for this disease. Tuberculosis can also spread to other organs such as kidneys, spine and brain. Tuberculosis commonly spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, leaving some germs in the air, and another person inhales them. World Health Organization revealed that about 10 million people fall ill by tuberculosis or TB and 1.5 million die every year. People who have HIV or AIDS have a greater chance of being affected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Remember! Not every person infected with this bacteria has tuberculosis. There are two main conditions to be infected: one is latent tuberculosis infection, and the other is tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis disease can be fatal if left untreated.
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a condition in which an infected person with tuberculosis is not sick. It’s not contagious; It means that when a person breathes and gets Mycobacterium tuberculosis, his body’s immune system automatically responds to stop it. So, the person would not have any signs or symptoms of this infectious disease but would have had a positive TB blood test and normal chest X-ray.
Causes of Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria affects lungs and causes tuberculosis disease. Many people remain in a latent stage, even after being affected by this disease. At this stage, TB cannot spread to others; however, those with weak immune systems and having any other disease like HIV enter into tuberculosis disease. It is reported that almost 5 to 10% of people with latent TB infection can develop TB disease at any stage of their life if not treated.
Risk factors of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis mainly affects people with alcoholic habits or alcohol abuse, elderly, people who use intravenous drugs, and especially those who live in TB-affected countries. Tuberculosis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis also affects people with medical conditions such as silicosis, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, organ transplants, or head or neck cancer. Additionally, high cases of Tuberculosis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been found in children under the age of 15.
Symptoms of Tuberculosis
People who have a latent tuberculosis infection usually do not feel sick or show any other symptoms. However, some of the common symptoms of TB include coughing, which is lasting for more than three weeks, cough with mucus and sometimes blood, chest pain, extreme tiredness and fatigue, fever and loss of appetite.
Suppose this infectious disease spreads to other organs or glands of the body. In that case, it may show the following symptoms: Gland swelling, joint or ankle swelling, constipation, stiff neck, rashes on different parts of the body, and tummy or pelvic pain. Children usually experience fever, night sweats, weight loss, sickness and coughing.
Diagnosis
If you are experiencing one of the above symptoms, then your doctor will diagnose tuberculosis by taking some tests, such as:
• X-ray, Ultrasound, CT scan of your chest or affected area
• Examining a sample of mucus
• By examining samples of tissue or cells of the affected area
• The doctor may also ask you for a Mantoux test or blood test.
Treatment
Tuberculosis is treatable; however, it causes significant mortality. Latent TB infection treatment in children or infants involves proper examination. Children below 2 years are treated with isoniazid-rifapentine for 12 weeks and once a week. Alternative treatment includes 4 months of daily rifampin.
TB Disease treatment for children involves anti-tuberculosis medicines for 4, 6 or 9 months. The above-mentioned 4 months of treatment is not recommended for children after the age of 12.

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