Every year March 24th marks World Tuberculosis Day, a time to educate and raise awareness about ways this disease impacts the globe. Tuberculosis, or TB, is a contagious infection that typically appears in the lungs, though it can also spread to other parts of the body. Although some improvements have been made against tuberculosis, it is still far from being eradicated. In 2020, 1.5 million people died from TB worldwide. It is currently the 13th leading cause of death and second-leading infection with highly fatal risks after COVID-19.
A brief history of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis traces as far back as 9,000 years ago. However, the date for which World Tuberculosis Day was chosen is quite significant. On that very day in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch, a 19th-century German physician, and microbiologist announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB.
Before Koch’s discovery of the bacteria, TB killed one out of every seven people living in the United States and Europe. At the time, TB was believed to be hereditary. There were even myths in the early 1800s in northeastern parts of the United States that linked contracting tuberculosis to vampire infestations, later called "vampire panic.” Thankfully, the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has helped control the disease and eliminate old myths, as well as save millions of lives.
How TB is transmitted?
Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease like the cold and flu, meaning it spreads through the air from one person to the next. Someone can only get TB through contact with an infected person. People with TB can infect others through close contact while coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing. Like other airborne diseases, when someone is diagnosed with tuberculosis, a contact investigation is expected to test recent contacts and loved ones who may have been exposed.
There are currently two standard tests to diagnose TB. The first is called the Mantoux tuberculin skin test. During this test, a technician injects a small amount of fluid into the skin of your lower arm. It takes about 2 or 3 days to determine results with this method, and it’s not unusual to be tested more than once to confirm outcomes.
The second is a blood test called interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), which is often considered more accurate than the skin test. Results take about 24 hours.
Tuberculosis symptoms
Tuberculosis symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, night sweats, or chills. Someone with TB can also experience a cough that lasts more than three weeks. However, some people with TB experience no symptoms at all. To better explain the distinction between those with symptoms and those without, it is vital to understand the two types of TB conditions: TB disease and latent TB infection.
TB disease or Active TB is the condition version that leads to symptoms and further sickness. It can emerge weeks or even years after infection with the TB bacteria and be transmitted to others.
Latent TB infection means the TB bacteria in your body are inactive. This version of TB leads to no symptoms and isn't contagious.
People with weakened immune systems like babies and young children are more susceptible to contracting tuberculosis. Also at-risk are people with immuno-compromising conditions like diabetes, severe kidney disease, and HIV infection, to name a few.
The world against TB
Scientists worldwide have come together to help eradicate tuberculosis, and many efforts have made waves. In fact, current U.S. treatments have proven to work in more than 95% of cases. So what are some of the ways the world helps stop TB?
In 1943, the invention of antibiotics like streptomycin became a significant development in TB treatment. Currently, drug-susceptible TB patients use a “4-drug cocktail” to treat the disease. Health professionals have also discovered alternative drugs like Bedaquiline and Linezolid for types of TB that have evolved to be drug-resistant. Today, new technology like whole genome sequencing helps identify TB transmission patterns, helping hone in on eradication efforts.
Currently, most TB cases are cured with antibiotics. However, the recovery process can be quite lengthy, and some must take medication for up to 9 months. If someone has TB, they should avoid interaction with people as much as possible. And individuals can work to try to prevent latent TB by taking all recommended medication so that it doesn’t become active and contagious.
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