Tuberculosis

Definition

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can lead to severe respiratory issues if not treated properly. The rise of multidrug-resistant TB strains has made this infection a significant public health concern, connecting it to both emerging and re-emerging infections, as well as global health initiatives aimed at sustainable development.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, with a significant burden in low- and middle-income countries.
2. The World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency in 1993 due to its rapid spread and rising incidence.
3. Vaccination with the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine can provide some protection against severe forms of TB in children, though it is not universally effective.
4. TB can affect other parts of the body beyond the lungs, including the kidneys, spine, and brain, leading to extrapulmonary TB.
5. Efforts to control tuberculosis are closely tied to sustainable development goals, particularly those focused on health equity and access to care.

Review Questions

• How does tuberculosis exemplify the concepts of emerging and re-emerging infections in public health?
  • Tuberculosis serves as a prime example of both emerging and re-emerging infections because it has persisted as a significant global health challenge despite being treatable. Its resurgence can be attributed to factors such as increased rates of drug resistance, co-infection with HIV, and social determinants of health like poverty and malnutrition. Understanding these dynamics helps public health officials devise strategies to combat TB effectively.
• Discuss the impact of multidrug-resistant TB on global health initiatives related to infectious disease control.
  • Multidrug-resistant TB poses a major challenge for global health initiatives as it complicates treatment regimens and increases the cost of care. This resistance often results from inadequate treatment practices or incomplete courses of medication, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies that include surveillance, education, and access to effective medicines. Addressing MDR-TB is crucial for achieving broader goals in infectious disease control and improving overall public health outcomes.
• Evaluate the role of sustainable development goals in addressing tuberculosis and its global burden.
  • Sustainable development goals (SDGs) play a vital role in addressing tuberculosis by promoting health equity, access to quality healthcare, and education about infectious diseases. By integrating TB control into broader health systems strengthening efforts and focusing on social determinants that contribute to its spread, such as poverty and malnutrition, these goals aim to reduce TB incidence and mortality. Effective collaboration among governments, NGOs, and communities is essential to implement these strategies successfully.

Related terms

Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The bacterium that causes tuberculosis, characterized by its slow growth and ability to survive in harsh conditions.

latent TB infection: A state in which an individual is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but does not exhibit symptoms and is not contagious.

multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB): A form of tuberculosis that does not respond to at least two of the most effective anti-TB medications, making treatment more complicated.