What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily a respiratory disease. TB is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

Curently, approximately 16,000 cases are reported annually in the United States of America alone

How does Tuberculosis (TB) Spread?

Tuberculosis/TB spreads from one person to another. When a TB patient coughs or sneezes, the bacteria are released into the air. When a person inhales those bacteria, (s)he becomes infected. The TB bacteria so inhaled then grows inside the lungs. The bacteria may eventually spread through the blood to other (kidney, spine, and brain) organs. While TB in the lung and throat can be higly infectious, TB in other parts of the body is usually not infectious.

What are the symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB)?

People who are infected (latent TB infection) are usually asymptomatic. Neither do they feel sick, nor do they exhibit any TB symptoms. A person infected with TB bacteria does not spread TB prior to developing the TB disease. The following Tuberculosis/TB symptoms are usually present in people suffering from TB disease:

• Fever,
• Night-sweats,
• Chest pain,
• Chronic cough,
• Mucus, phlegm, or blood in cough,
• Loss of appetite, and
• Weight loss.

Who is at high risk of developing Tuberculosis/TB?

People who come in close contact with those suffering from TB disease (especially those suffering from Tuberculosis of lungs or throat) are most likely to catch Tuberculosis. The risk greatly increases with the frequency and the closeness/proximity of such contacts. Care-givers, family members, close friends, and coworkers, therefore, are at greater risk of being infected with this highly infectious disease.

Risk factors for Tuberculosis (TB) include:

• Substance abuse,
• Low body weight,
• People with weak immune systems.
  • Infants, young children,
  • People infected with HIV,
• Kidney disease,
• Cancer of the head/neck,
• Leukemia,
• Hodgkin's disease,
• Organ transplant,
• Silicosis, and
• Diabetes mellitus.

Treatment for Tuberculosis (TB):

TB is completely treatable if people suffering from TB disease seek medical help in a timely fashion.

The drugs usually prescribed for TB patients include:

• Ethambutol,
• Isoniazid (INH),
• Pyrazinamide,
• Rifampin, and
• Streptomycin.

Usually a cocktail of several different drugs is prescribed to help distroy all of the bacteria and to prevent the TB bacteria from becoming drug-resistant to a particular drug.

Considering that it usually takes a long time (often well over six months) to destroy TB bacteria, it is very important that the patient continues to take his medicine regularly, as prescribed. Not taking medicines regularly can possibly make the TB bacteria to become drug-resistant. Should this happen, the patient may need different drugs and for a longer period of time. Therefore, it is essential that a TB patient follows her doctor's medical advise and takes her medicines regularly.

Prognosis for Tuberculosis (TB) Patients:

Almost all Tuberculosis patients can be cured if they take their medications regularly, and complete the entire treatment as prescribed.

Don't forget to check out Lung Disease News section of this website for the latest Tuberculosis Diagnosis, TB Vaccines, and TB Treatment News, and our Lung Disease Articles Library for the latest articles on Tuberculosis Diagnosis, TB Vaccination, and TB Treatment/Containment.

Note: Consult a qualified medical practitioner if you suspect lung disease. Information published at this mesothelioma lung disease asbestos cancer forum - or most other websites for that matter - should not be relied upon for health decisions. The information presented on this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care, medical, legal, or professional advise. Please talk with your healthcare provider for all your health concerns.