Tuberculosis
Overview of transmission and parthenogenesis of TB
TB is caused by bacteria (a type of germ) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). With rare exceptions, TB is infectious only when it occurs in the lungs or larynx. TB that occurs elsewhere in the body is usually not infectious, unless the person also has TB in the lungs or larynx at the same time. A person who has TB disease in his or her lungs or larynx can release many tiny particles called droplet nuclei into the air by coughing or sneezing; smaller numbers of droplet nuclei are released during normal activities like talking or spontaneously during breathing. These droplet nuclei particles are invisible to the naked eye and are approximately 1 to 5 microns in size. (A micron is approximately one-hundredth the width of a human hair.) Droplet nuclei can remain airborne in room air for a long period of time, until they are removed by natural or mechanical ventilation. In order for TB to spread, there must be a source patient who has infectious TB disease and a susceptible host (a person to inhale droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis). Anyone who shares air with a person with infectious TB disease of the lungs or larynx is at risk, although TB is not usually spread by brief contact. TB is spread when another person inhales one or more of these particles and becomes infected with TB.
Early identification of presumptive TB cases, at the first point of care be it private or public sectors, and prompt diagnosis using high sensitivity diagnostic tests to provide universal access to quality TB diagnosis including drug resistant TB in the country.
Symtoms
- A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling tired all the time
- Night sweats
- Chills
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
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