5 Things You Need to Know About Tuberculosis

1. Once the Leading Cause of Death

Tuberculosis, also referred to as TB, is a bacterial infection. It usually starts in the lungs, it is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If it spreads to the kidneys or spine, it usually isn't contagious. Tuberculosis used to be the leading cause of death in the United States, but several effective medicines have been found to treat the illness. TB is still a problem though, and thousands of people still die from the illness every year.

2. Positive Yet Latent

A person can also have latent tuberculosis. They test positive for the illness, but don't have any symptoms and aren't contagious to others. It means that they've been exposed to TB, but their bodies have been successful in fighting the infection. Latent tuberculosis can remain dormant in the body for a person's whole life. But contracting another illness that weakens the immune system could allow the latent TB to take hold and become a problem. That's why it's important for people with latent TB to receive treatment to prevent them developing active TB in the future.

3. Months to Manifest

Tuberculosis can take months after the initial infection before the first symptoms of fever, unexplained weight loss, general tiredness and night sweats begin to appear. Additional symptoms such as a cough, trouble breathing and sometimes spitting up blood or sputum are seen if the illness settles into the lungs. Left untreated, additional symptoms will vary by patient and the path that the tuberculosis is taking through the body.

4. Test Leads to Timely Treatment

The most common test for exposure to tuberculosis is called the TB skin test, PPD (purified protein derivative) test or Mantoux test. A very small amount of a protein from tuberculosis, called tuberculin, is injected into the top layer of the skin. If a hard, raised area develops at the injection site within 48 to 72 hours, the test is positive. This indicates the person has been exposed to the illness and has developed an immune response to it. Prompt treatment will be indicated at that time. Someone who's been vaccinated for TB, given in countries where the rate of infection is high, will always test positive for the disease. Since the vaccination offers only a partial immunity, it makes diagnosing tuberculosis harder in these patients.

5. Rates Recently Rising

Strains of drug-resistant tuberculosis, that have developed an immunity to drugs commonly used to fight the infection, do exist. This is sometimes due to patients not finishing the prescribed course of medication, poorly formulated or an insufficient supply of drugs. Rates of tuberculosis have also risen dramatically through the 1980's and 1990's due to HIV. The immune system is compromised in HIV patients, making TB an opportunistic infection. Medical science is hopeful that as we find ways of better managing the health of HIV patients, the rates of tuberculosis will once again fall.