Tuberculosis (TB)

Home » Tuberculosis (TB) » Tuberculosis Overview

Overview

In 1993, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared tuberculosis a global emergency. According to the WHO, worldwide incidence of tuberculosis (TB) may have peaked in 2005. Tuberculosis infection is responsible for more deaths than any other infectious disease. Once called consumption, TB is a highly contagious, persistent disease characterized by the formation of hard grayish nodules, or tubercles. The disease is most often caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and usually occurs in the lungs (the initial site of infection), but it also can occur in other organs.

Because its signs and symptoms are easily confused with those of many other (usually respiratory) diseases, tuberculosis can be difficult to diagnose. Common symptoms are cough that is worse in the morning and may include hemoptysis (i.e., blood in the sputum), chest pain, night sweats, and breathlessness (dyspnea). Ninety percent of those infected with M. tuberculosis mount an effective immune response and never develop the disease.

Incidence and Prevalence
Mycobacterial disease is one of the world's most difficult health problems. One-third of the population worldwide is infected with TB. Of these, 8 to 10 million develop active disease and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2 million die each year. It is the greatest cause of death in women of reproductive age; 900 million women are currently infected. Of these, 2.5 million will develop active disease and 1 million will die.

According to WHO, every year more than 1.5 million TB cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa; nearly 3 million cases occur in Southeast Asia; and over 250,000 occur in Eastern Europe. AIDS (autoimmune deficiency syndrome) with coexistent mycobacterial infection is bringing TB back into Western cities and seriously threatens health services in the developing world.

The rate of tuberculosis infection in the United States had been declining steadily until 1984 and then increased. Numerous factors account for the resurgence of tuberculosis in the United States and in Europe. They include the following:

• Emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis
• Erosion of systems for diagnosis and treatment of the disease
• Immigration of infected persons from countries where TB is prevalent
• Prevalence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection and AIDS
• Reactivation of disease in the elderly
• Socioeconomic decline in urban areas

The rapid response of state and federal agencies in the United States has averted a potentially drastic rise in incidence.

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Tuberculosis (TB) Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Pulmonary Care Team The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your lung condition. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Tuberculosis Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer