“Out of Mind, Out of Sight?”
Tuberculosis Still One of the World’s Deadliest Diseases
Tuberculosis may not seem prevalent to most Americans, considering the lack of reported cases in the US, but the disease is still predominant worldwide. Each year, over 9 million people around the world become sick with TB.1
In 1882, Dr. Robert Koch discovered mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes the disease. To commemorate this date and work toward the goal of eliminating the disease, we celebrate World TB Day on March 24th.
TB is a bacterial infection that is most commonly found in the lungs. It can also spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream to other organs in the body. Tuberculosis is an airborne spread disease that is caught easily by those who are consistently exposed. When a person with active TB disease of the lung or throat coughs or sneezes, they expel tiny particles containing the bacteria into the atmosphere.2
The majority of those who infected by TB have a latent condition. A person with a latent TB infection does not feel sick, nor are they contagious. If not treated, the disease will eventually become active and can lead to permanent body damage and death. Symptoms of TB include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. You can be tested for the disease through a skin or blood test to see if you have a positive reaction. If a positive reaction results, you will then be tested to see if the disease is active or latent.
Although the rate of TB is declining in the US, it is important we are still aware of the disease. TB can only be eradicated by the collective efforts of local, state, national, and international sectors. As World Tuberculosis Day approaches, join in the efforts through spreading awareness in your community and making sure efforts to eliminate TB are being made.
Find out if there are any events going on in your state for World TB Day by clicking here.
1CDC.gov, Data and Statistics. < http://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/default.htm>
2 Ibid.
