Understanding Tuberculosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Global Impact

- December 28, 2024

~~ Dr.Wey George Danlami Consultant-Family Physician

Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, is an infectious disease caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affects the lungs. It is spread through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze, or spit, and a person only needs to inhale a few germs to become infected. Every year, 10 million people fall ill with TB, and despite being preventable and curable, 1.5 million people die from the disease annually, making it the world's top infectious killer.

TB is a leading cause of death among people with HIV and contributes significantly to antimicrobial resistance. Most cases of TB are found in low- and middle-income countries, with half of all cases concentrated in eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and South Africa. Around a quarter of the global population has been estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria, with 5-10% of those infected eventually developing TB disease.

Common symptoms of TB include a prolonged cough, chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. While TB primarily affects the lungs, it can also affect other organs such as the kidneys, brain, spine, and skin. TB disease can be fatal if left untreated, but it is usually treated with antibiotics. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to prevent TB in some countries, particularly to children.

To prevent TB infection and spread, individuals are encouraged to seek medical attention if they have symptoms, get tested if at risk, complete TB preventive treatment if prescribed, and practice good hygiene, including covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Diagnosing TB is recommended through rapid molecular diagnostic tests like the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and Truenat assays. Treatment for TB disease involves special antibiotics taken daily for 4-6 months, and drug-resistant TB requires different medications.

Efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 79 million lives since 2000. The global target for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care requires $22 billion annually, and the goal is to end the TB epidemic by 2030 as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Special precautions are recommended in healthcare facilities and other institutions to reduce infection rates.