Tuberculosis;Causes, Symptoms,Prevention And Control.

TUBERCULOSIS.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

It mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body, including the tummy (abdomen), glands, bones and nervous system.

Causes

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

People with active TB disease in the lungs or voice box can spread the disease. They release tiny droplets that carry the bacteria through the air. This can happen when they’re speaking, singing, laughing, coughing or sneezing. A person can get an infection after inhaling the droplets.

The disease is more likely to spread when people spend a lot of time together in an indoor space. So the disease spreads easily in places where people live or work together for long periods. Also, the disease spreads more easily in crowded gatherings.

A person with a latent TB infection cannot pass the disease to other people. A person taking drugs to treat active TB disease usually can’t pass the disease after 2 to 3 weeks of treatment.

Symptoms of TB

Typical symptoms of TB include:

• a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody
• weight loss
• night sweats
• high temperature (fever)
• tiredness and fatigue
• loss of appetite
• new swellings that haven’t gone away after a few weeks

Tuberculosis spreads easily where people gather in crowds or where people live in crowded conditions. People with HIV/AIDS and other people with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of catching tuberculosis than people with typical immune systems.

Drugs called antibiotics can treat tuberculosis. But some forms of the bacteria no longer respond well to treatments.

When to see a doctor

The symptoms of tuberculosis are similar to symptoms of many different illnesses. See your health care provider if you have symptoms that don’t improve with a few days of rest.

Get emergency care if you have:

• Chest pain.
• Sudden, severe headache.
• Confusion.
• Seizures.
• Difficulty breathing.

Get immediate or urgent care if you:

• Cough up blood.
• Have blood in your urine or stool.