Tuberculosis
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| In the early 1900s, TB killed one out of every seven people living in the United States and Europe. Starting in the 1940s, scientists discovered the first of several medicines now used to treat TB. As a result, TB slowly began to decrease in the United States. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) remains a concern, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB) has become an important issue. |
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reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium
tuberculosis*. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack
any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly,
TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the
United States.
Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria
are put into the air when a person with active Tuberculosis disease of the lungs or
throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these
bacteria and become infected.
However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are
infected but not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have
latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot
spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get TB
disease.
There is good news. People with active TB disease can be treated if they seek
medical help. Even better, most people with latent TB infection can take medicine
so that they will not develop active TB disease.
Why is TB still a problem in the United States?
In the early 1900s, Tuberculosis killed one out of every seven people living in the
United States and Europe. Starting in the 1940s, scientists discovered the first of
several medicines now used to treat Tuberculosis. As a result, TB slowly began to
decrease in the United States. But in the 1970s and early 1980s, the country let
its guard down and TB control efforts were neglected. This led to an increase in
the number of TB cases between 1985 and 1992. However, with increased
funding and attention to the Tuberculosis problem, there has been a steady
decline in the number of persons with Tuberculosis since 1993.
But Tuberculosis continues to be a problem. For example, the number of TB cases is
still declining, but the speed of decline has slowed since 2003. Multidrug-resistant
TB (MDR TB) remains a concern, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB)
has become an important issue. And, racial and ethnic minority populations and
foreign-born individuals continue to account for a large number of TB cases in the
United States.
How is TB spread?
Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria
are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat
coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria
and become infected.
When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and
begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the
body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be
spread to other people. Tuberculosis in other parts of the body, such as the
kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.
People with active Tuberculosis disease are most likely to spread it to people they
spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers
or schoolmates.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able
to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but
they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB
infection. People with latent TB infection
* have no symptoms
* don't feel sick
* can't spread TB to others
* usually have a positive skin test reaction or positive Tuberculosis blood test
* may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB
infection
Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In
these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing
disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems,
the bacteria become active, multiply, and cause TB disease.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able
to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but
they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB
infection. People with latent Tuberculosis infection
* have no symptoms
* don't feel sick
* can't spread Tuberculosis to others
* usually have a positive skin test reaction or positive TB blood test
* may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB
infection
Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In
these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing
disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems,
the bacteria become active, multiply, and cause TB disease.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able
to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but
they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB
infection. People with latent TB infection
* have no symptoms
* don't feel sick
* can't spread Tuberculosis to others
* usually have a positive skin test reaction or positive TB blood test
* may develop active Tuberculosis disease if they do not receive treatment for
latent TB infection
Many people who have latent Tuberculosis infection never develop active TB
disease. In these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without
causing disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune
systems, the bacteria become active, multiply, and cause TB disease.
SOURCE CDC.GOV
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium
tuberculosis*. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack
any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly,
TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the
United States.
Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria
are put into the air when a person with active Tuberculosis disease of the lungs or
throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these
bacteria and become infected.
However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are
infected but not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have
latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot
spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get TB
disease.
There is good news. People with active TB disease can be treated if they seek
medical help. Even better, most people with latent TB infection can take medicine
so that they will not develop active TB disease.
Why is TB still a problem in the United States?
In the early 1900s, Tuberculosis killed one out of every seven people living in the
United States and Europe. Starting in the 1940s, scientists discovered the first of
several medicines now used to treat Tuberculosis. As a result, TB slowly began to
decrease in the United States. But in the 1970s and early 1980s, the country let
its guard down and TB control efforts were neglected. This led to an increase in
the number of TB cases between 1985 and 1992. However, with increased
funding and attention to the Tuberculosis problem, there has been a steady
decline in the number of persons with Tuberculosis since 1993.
But Tuberculosis continues to be a problem. For example, the number of TB cases is
still declining, but the speed of decline has slowed since 2003. Multidrug-resistant
TB (MDR TB) remains a concern, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB)
has become an important issue. And, racial and ethnic minority populations and
foreign-born individuals continue to account for a large number of TB cases in the
United States.
How is TB spread?
Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria
are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat
coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria
and become infected.
When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and
begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the
body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be
spread to other people. Tuberculosis in other parts of the body, such as the
kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.
People with active Tuberculosis disease are most likely to spread it to people they
spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers
or schoolmates.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able
to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but
they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB
infection. People with latent TB infection
* have no symptoms
* don't feel sick
* can't spread TB to others
* usually have a positive skin test reaction or positive Tuberculosis blood test
* may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB
infection
Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In
these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing
disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems,
the bacteria become active, multiply, and cause TB disease.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able
to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but
they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB
infection. People with latent Tuberculosis infection
* have no symptoms
* don't feel sick
* can't spread Tuberculosis to others
* usually have a positive skin test reaction or positive TB blood test
* may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB
infection
Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In
these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing
disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems,
the bacteria become active, multiply, and cause TB disease.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able
to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but
they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB
infection. People with latent TB infection
* have no symptoms
* don't feel sick
* can't spread Tuberculosis to others
* usually have a positive skin test reaction or positive TB blood test
* may develop active Tuberculosis disease if they do not receive treatment for
latent TB infection
Many people who have latent Tuberculosis infection never develop active TB
disease. In these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without
causing disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune
systems, the bacteria become active, multiply, and cause TB disease.
SOURCE CDC.GOV