A certain percentage of the world’s population is infected with bacteria that are responsible for causing tuberculosis. This is why tuberculosis is still one of the deadly diseases in the world. Based on statistics, tuberculosis has been responsible for millions of deaths worldwide on a yearly basis, making it one of the deadly diseases in the world until today.
What are the causes?
Tuberculosis is triggered by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is a large rod-shaped bacterium. Take note that Mycobacterium tuberculosis has the capability to infect various parts of the body including the skin, bones, joints, kidney, lymph nodes, spine and the nervous system. Since the bacteria require oxygen in order to thrive, they most often infect the upper part of the lungs.
Transmission of tuberculosis
It is important to note that tuberculosis is a highly communicable disease that can spread from one individual to another via the air. Once an individual is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, singing, talking, sneezing or coughing will send out tiny droplets that contain bacteria into the air, thus can be easily inhaled by others in the environment.
What are the risk factors?
Even though tuberculosis can easily infect others, there are certain groups of individuals who face a higher risk of getting infected with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Any individual who was closely exposed to an individual suffering from active tuberculosis faces a higher risk.
An individual who has a weakened immune system due to AIDS will face a higher risk for acquiring active tuberculosis. In such cases, tuberculosis has become an active disease within weeks of being infected.
Those who work in healthcare facilities face a higher risk for acquiring tuberculosis. This is due to the fact that the infection spreads easily from one individual to another.
Latent infection
In most cases, those who become infected with tuberculosis will not develop the condition. Among healthy individuals, once the bacteria enter the body, the immune system will fight the bacteria, thus preventing them from reproducing and causing the bacteria to stay dormant. Individuals who have a latent infection do not have any signs or symptoms and could not spread the disease to others. On the other hand, they are positive in a TB skin test and must be given treatment to stop the latent infection from turning into the active form.
A small percentage of those who have latent infection will end up with an active disease. Once the immune system could no longer control the bacteria, they become active, thus resulting to tuberculosis. Those who have active tuberculosis will manifest symptoms which include chest pain, cough lasting for 3 weeks or more and blood-streaked sputum. These individuals are highly contagious and can easily spread the bacteria to those around them. Due to the communicable nature of the disease, infection control measures should be carefully observed. You can enroll in a first aid course so that you are prepared.