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Tuberculosis(TB) is caused by the aerobic baterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.This bacterium grows so slowly that it often takes weeks for doctors to detect the presence of it in patients.
Humans are the only host for the bacterium.The bacteria spreads rapidly through the air when an infected patient coughs.Hence, in crowded areas and slums, the bacteria will spread very quickly among the people.However, infected persons may not experience any visible signs until their resistance is lowered.
Tuberculosis can affect many organs but its main symptoms include fever, night sweats(awakening in the night drenched with a cold sweat),fatigue, weight loss and a persistent cough which produces green or yellow phelgm.Blood may appear in the phelgm which is a main characteristic people identify with the disease.This is the pulmonary(lung) form of tuberculosis.Tubercles(cavities) form in the lung and other parts of the body.Other forms are described below:
In skeletal tuberculosis, holes appear in bones, resulting in pain and possible paralysis if it occurs in spine. TB can affect the reproductive tract , resulting in sterility and a lump in scrotum(man). Tuberculosis mostly affects the kidneys, causing kidney damage. If the bacteria are ingested(swallowed), gastro-intestinal Tb results.This is characterized by fatigue and abdominal tenderness.In cardiac(heart) TB, fever and breathlessness can be felt.This may be fatal. Lastly, TB also affects the brain.The symptoms are fever, headache, nausea, drowsiness. Brain damage may lead to coma and death.
Anti-tuberculosis drugs include isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol or streptomycin but have to be taken for a long period of time to clear the bacteria from the body.
TB can be prevented using a vaccine known as BCG but its effectiveness is not known. Avoiding people who are known TB patients and taking isoniazid as a preventive drug reduces the spread of the disease.
Tuberculosis(TB) is also known as consumption or "white plague" .It got its name from the numerous tubercles("holes") formed in the lungs and other parts of the body by the bacteria.
