An Introduction to Tuberculosis

This blog has been made to provide information to those who have contracted Tuberculosis, their friends and family members, as well as people who would like to learn more about this disease.

Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is an infectious bacterial disease which has been affecting humans for about 5,000 years now. It may be scary to hear that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with TB disease, but with the help of modern technology and a well-developed treatment plan, tuberculosis is curable and preventable! Here are some quick facts to help you start to learn about TB.

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Now lets take a more in-depth look. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium tubercolosis. This bacteria can be spread when a diseased individual coughs, sneezes, or even speaks. When the bacteria enters the air and people breath this contaminated air in, the bacteria can infiltrate the lungs and infect these people as well. Over 2 million people throughout the world are currently infected with this bacteria. Fortunately, the majority of these people will never fall ill to TB disease. The video below gives some great educational insight on why this is so.

   

As you saw, people who are infected with TB bacteria may either have a latent TB infection (where there are no symptoms present and TB bacteria cannot be spread to others) or a TB disease. If one has developed a TB disease, it is because their immune system is too weak to keep the bacteria from spreading throughout their body. People who may have weak immune systems (and are therefore more susceptible to TB disease) might include:

• Children
• HIV/AIDS infected individuals
• Substance abusers
• People with cancer
• People with kidney disease
• People with Leukemia

The picture below demonstrates some of the symptoms that occur with pulmonary TB disease.

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Remember that TB disease can spread throughout the body! If left untreated, the TB bacteria can spread throughout the body and affect the brain, lymph nodes, bones, heart, among other tissues and organs. 

If you have TB disease or believe you may have contracted a latent TB infection, please talk to your doctor or seek medical attention if you have not already! Diagnosis and treatment plans, which will be discussed in later blog posts, are crucial in both preventing the spread and curing tuberculosis. 

Feel free to check out this CDC site dedicated to Tuberculosis, where you can find additional stats, facts, and much more information.

You can also go to the World Health Organization's Tuberculosis page, where you can learn more about the disease and discover what action is taking place throughout the world in order to effectively fight this disease.

Finally, if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with TB disease and are looking for extra social support, this website allows people to share and discuss their experience with TB disease, and it may help to see the success and feel the support of others.