In the developing world, Tuberculosis continues to be a scourge. HIV/AIDS and the rise of multidrug-resistant TB (MDRTB) magnifies the disease, creating an epidemic that developing nations are poorly equipped to combat. Tuberculosis causes the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, most of whom, live in developing countries.
TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer worldwide due to a single infectious agent.
TB is a contagious and chronic infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs but can also attack any part of the body such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.
A third of the world has latent TB, which means they have been infected by TB but have no symptoms and cannot transmit the disease.
In Active TB the bacteria become active and multiply in the body when the immune system is weakened and can’t stop the bacteria from growing. People with Active TB disease are sick and have symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. They are also able to spread the bacteria to people they spend time with daily.
TB spreads through droplets in the air. The TB bacteria get into the air when someone with Active TB coughs, sneezes, speaks or even sings. People close by are infected when they breathe in the bacteria.
If you think that you or someone you know has TB, go to the nearest clinic or hospital immediately and tell the health worker that you suspect TB.
TB can be treated, by taking a combination of drugs for 6 to 9 months. It is vital to finish the medicine and take the drugs exactly as prescribed.
- If you stop taking the drugs too early, you can become sick again.
- If you don’t take the drugs correctly, the bacteria may become resistant to those drugs.
- TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.
Unite to end TB!!
