Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest known diseases. It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a contagious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another through the air and is also treatable. If left untreated, it can be fatal.
Tuberculosis is a significant public health problem. It is estimated that there are approximately 9 million TB patients worldwide, and 1.5 million lives are lost due to this disease.
The transmission of TB occurs when individuals with active TB disease cough, sneeze, speak, or spit, releasing TB bacteria into the air, which can then be inhaled by healthy individuals, leading to the development of the disease over time. It is important to note that the disease does not develop immediately after contact. Not everyone who has acquired the TB bacteria becomes ill, and a person who has acquired the TB bacteria but is not sick is not contagious. Transmission does not occur through shared utensils such as cutlery, glasses, plates, or towels.
Factors such as prolonged close contact with an infected person, the presence of additional illnesses, and a gradual decline in immunity can accelerate the disease’s settlement in the lungs and its spread to other organs.
Although TB primarily affects the lungs, it can also affect other organs and systems in the body, presenting with different symptoms depending on the affected organ.
Early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis are important. The presence of the TB bacteria can be detected through microscopic examination of sputum samples, and the diagnosis can also be confirmed through culture methods using the same sputum sample. With regular treatment, infectivity diminishes within weeks. TB bacteria are sensitive to sunlight and quickly perish. Therefore, it is important for patients to stay in well-ventilated rooms that receive sunlight.
Tuberculosis is treated with medication. There is no alternative treatment option for the disease. There are powerful drugs available today that can kill the tuberculosis bacteria. Treatment is typically administered for an average of 6 months to effectively eliminate the bacteria and prevent the development of resistance. It usually involves an initial intensive treatment phase of 2 months with four drugs, followed by a continuation phase of 4 months with two drugs. The duration and medications used in treatment may vary in certain special disease conditions.