Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading infectious killer disease globally. It is a serious illness that mainly affects the lungs, and it is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 

Tuberculosis spreads when droplets from an infected person are released into the air when they cough, sneeze, laugh, speak or sing. Another person can then breathe in the droplets, and the germs enter the lungs. 

When tuberculosis (TB) germs survive and multiply in the lungs, it is called a TB infection. A TB infection may be in one of three stages. Symptoms are different in each stage. 

Primary TB infection

This is the first stage. Here, immune system cells find and capture the germs. The immune system may completely destroy the germs. But some captured germs may still survive and multiply. 

Most people don't have symptoms during a primary infection. Some people may get flu-like symptoms, such as low fever, tiredness, and cough. 

Latent TB infection

This is the second stage. At this stage, immune system cells build a wall around the lung tissue with TB germs. The germs can't do any more harm if the immune system keeps them under control. But the germs survive. There are no symptoms during latent TB infection. 

Active TB disease

Active TB disease happens when the immune system can't control an infection. The germs cause the disease to spread to the lungs or other parts of the body. Active TB disease may happen right after primary infection. But it usually happens after months or years of latent TB infection. 

People with active TB disease in the lungs or voice box can spread the disease when they speak, sing, laugh, cough or sneeze. The disease spreads easily in places where people live or work together for long periods. Also, the disease spreads more easily in crowded gatherings. 

Symptoms

While the symptoms of tuberculosis are similar to those of many different illnesses, it is important to get emergency care if you experience the following:

·         Chest pain,

·         Sudden and severe headache,

·         Confusion

·         Seizures

·         Difficulty breathing,

·         Coughing up blood,

·         Blood in your urine or stool. 

Risk Factors

Certain factors increase the risk of getting infected with TB like:

·         Living with someone with active TB disease.

·         Living or travelling in a country where TB is common, including several countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands.

·         Living or working in places where people live close together, such as prisons, nursing homes and shelters for homeless people.

·         Living in a community identified as being at high risk of tuberculosis.

·         Providing health care services and treating people with a high risk of TB.

·         A weakened immune system, which increases the risk of a TB infection becoming an active TB disease. 

Prevention Tips

To protect yourself and others from TB, here are some help tips:

·         Avoid close contact with people who have active TB disease.

·         Wash your hands often and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

·         Eat a nutritious diet and exercise regularly to keep your immune system strong.

·         If you work in a healthcare setting, follow protocols for using and disposing of protective gear such as masks and gowns.

·         If you have a latent TB infection, follow the entire treatment protocol.

·         If you’re travelling to a high-risk area and you have a compromised immune system, talk with a doctor about preventive treatments. 

Tuberculosis is not a death sentence.  World TB Day is commemorated yearly on March 24th to raise public and political awareness of the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis (TB). 

If you experience the earlier outlined symptoms, it is advisable to see your doctor for emergency care. If diagnosed with latent TB, your doctor will give you medication to kill the bacteria, so the infection doesn’t become active. If you have drug-resistant TB, your doctor might give you one or more different medicines. Whatever kind of infection you have, it is important to take prescribed medications religiously. Incorrect use of antibiotics may result in persistent infection and the development of new strains of drug-resistant bacteria. 

The theme for 2024 - ‘Yes! We can end TB!’ – conveys a message of hope: turning the tide against the TB epidemic is possible through high-level leadership, increased investments, and faster uptake of new WHO recommendations. 

World TB Day is an opportunity to renew commitment, inspire and take action to end TB. 

The focus is to continue to scale up active efforts to provide preventative TB treatment for people with high risk, increase access to quality-assured rapid diagnosis of TB, and achieve full uptake of highly effective, safe and short treatment regimens for TB and drug-resistant TB. The latest treatment regimens are people-centred, making it easier for patients to continue with their lives while undergoing treatment, with no injections and minimal hospitalization.