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News Topical, Digital Desk : TB Symptoms: For nearly three years, COVID-19 remained the leading cause of death from any single infectious disease in the world. Between 2020 and 2023, the virus claimed the lives of nearly 7 million people. However, in 2023, this horrific record returned to TB. According to the WHO, even today, approximately 3,400 people die from TB every day, and approximately 30,000 new people are infected with the disease. TB is a disease that can be prevented and completely cured with timely diagnosis and treatment.
TB remains a major health problem worldwide, especially in countries with significant social challenges such as poverty, malnutrition, and poor living conditions. TB is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is not easily transmitted, with only 5 to 10 out of every 100 people infected with TB bacteria showing symptoms or developing the disease. Despite this, it is estimated that approximately a quarter of the world's population has been exposed to TB bacteria at some point.
According to Assist360, the biggest problem with TB is its multi-layered nature. Its symptoms mimic many other infections, making it difficult to diagnose; treatment is lengthy, requiring six to nine months of antibiotics. The germs can persist for long periods in closed, airless spaces.
How many stages of TB?
If we talk about how many stages it has, then let us tell you that this dangerous disease has 3 stages.
Exposure
This is the initial stage when TB germs enter the body. The immune system kills most of them, but some microscopic bacteria survive and can later develop into a latent infection (latent TB).
Latent TB
In this stage, TB is present in the body but not active. Symptoms are absent, but the bacteria can become active in the future. This means there is a risk of developing the disease.
Active TB
In this stage, TB germs begin to multiply in the body and symptoms begin to appear. This stage is contagious, spreading to others through tiny droplets spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and even death.
Common symptoms of TB
- persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- weight loss
- Fever
- Sweating at night
Symptoms also depend on the part of the body TB is affecting. TB is most common in the lungs, but it can also affect the liver, brain, spine, and skin.
TB treatment
The standard treatment for TB is a six-month course of antibiotics. Without treatment, the risk of death from TB is approximately 50 percent, but with proper and complete treatment, approximately 85 percent of patients recover completely. If the bacteria do not respond to medications, it is called drug-resistant TB. Treatment is difficult, lengthy, and requires more drugs. MDR-TB (multi-drug resistant TB) accounts for approximately 11 to 12 percent of cases, and its success rate is significantly lower than that of standard TB. MDR-TB often spreads when patients discontinue treatment or take medication incorrectly. It can spread to others in crowded places.
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