Facts About Tuberculosis (TB)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) each year around eight million people develop TB. Every year about 2 million people die from TB, a curable disease. Every second somewhere in the world someone gets infected with TB bacilli. The World Health Organization estimates that about one-third of the world's population is currently infected with the TB bacillus.
In the USA the tuberculosis (TB) infection rate in the United States fell to a record low in 2004. A total of 14,511 active TB infections, or 4.9 cases per 100,000 people, were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB spreads through the air. The usual form is pulmonary TB, which affects the lungs. Only people who are sick with TB in their lungs are infectious.
It is important to know that not everyone infected with TB germs develops active TB. About 5-10% of people who are infected with TB bacilli become sick or infectious at some time during their life.
Although TB most commonly affects the lungs, TB germs can also spread to other organs in the body (extra-pulmonary TB). This air borne infection is spread through coughs, sneezes and spitting of infected material. It only takes a few inhaled germs to become infected but In general, you need prolonged exposure to an infected person before becoming infected yourself.
Someone with a compromised or weakened immune system is more likely to become infected with Tuberculosis. TB remains a disease of poverty and poor health services.
TB has been around for many thousands of years. It has been found in bones dating back at least 5,000 years.
Signs and Symptoms of Active Tuberculosis (TB)
Signs and symptoms of active pulmonary TB are usually
Tuberculosis can also occur in other parts of your body. These include your joints, bones, bone marrow, muscles, urinary tract, lymphatic system and central nervous system.
Article reviewed 02/11/2006
