Despite advances in medicine, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major global health concern. It is mainly affecting the lungs, but it can also affect other sections of the body and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, bacteria-containing droplets are released into the..
Despite advances in medicine, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major global health concern. It is mainly affecting the lungs, but it can also affect other sections of the body and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, bacteria-containing droplets are released into the air and may be inhaled by others, causing the disease to spread.Latent TB infection and active TB disease are the two manifestations of tuberculosis. When the bacteria in the body are dormant and do not produce symptoms, it is known as latent tuberculosis (LABT). However, if the immune system deteriorates, latent tuberculosis can become active tuberculosis disease. This will allow the bacteria to grow and produce symptoms including fever, chronic cough, weight loss, and night sweats.Since active tuberculosis is infectious, treatment must be started right away to stop future spread. Chest X-rays, sputum tests, and occasionally biopsies are used in conjunction with one another for diagnosis purposes in order to identify the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.A mixture of antibiotics is often used for six to nine months as part of TB treatment. The antibiotics that are most frequently used are pyrazinamide, rifampin, ethambutol, and isoniazid. To guarantee that the infection is completely eliminated and to stop the emergence of drug-resistant strains, patients must faithfully follow their prescribed course of action.Even with efforts to reduce tuberculosis, a number of issues remain. These include the rise of drug-resistant forms of the disease, the fact that some areas lack access to healthcare, and societal factors like homelessness and poverty that make people more susceptible to the illness.The international community has stepped up its efforts to fight tuberculosis in recent years. Between 2015 and 2035, the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy seeks to reduce tuberculosis fatalities by 95% and new cases by 90%. This program aims to address social determinants of health, guarantee universal health coverage, and integrate tuberculosis services with larger health systems.New vaccinations, therapies, and diagnostics are still being researched as top priorities. Newer and more reliable diagnostic methods, like molecular testing and fast medication resistance testing, can aid in the quicker and more precise diagnosis of tuberculosis. Furthermore, current research aims to create more potent vaccines to completely prevent tuberculosis infection as well as shorter, more effective treatment regimens.In summary, although there has been success in the fight against tuberculosis, the illness still poses a serious threat to global health. Achieving the objective of TB's global eradication as a public health issue would need sustained investment in research, healthcare infrastructure, and public health activities.
