Tuberculosis (TB) is a slowly
developing bacterial infection that''s caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis
. The number of cases in the UK is rising.
How does it affect the body?
TB most commonly affects the lungs but can affect almost any part of the body. It can be spread when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks and another person breathes in the bacteria. However, prolonged contact is usually needed to become infected.
What are the symptoms?
Initially, there may be no symptoms. When symptoms develop they commonly include:
a persistent cough, usually for more than three weeks - it may be dry to start with and progress to blood-streaked sputum
night sweats for weeks or months
weight loss
fatigue
high temperature
shortness of breath
Who''s affected?
It''s estimated that a third of the world''s population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB. Each year about 8 million people develop the disease and up to 2.5 million people worldwide are killed by it.
The latest figures from the Health Protection Agency, for 2006, show there was a two per cent rise in the number of cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a total of 8,171 cases.
Anyone can get TB. People at greater risk of
developing it include:
children and older people
smokers
those living in overcrowded conditions
those who have a poor diet
people with HIV
the homeless
those who have a weakened immune system because of other medical conditions, such as diabetes, or because of other medical therapy, such as immuno-suppressant medication
What''s the treatment?
A combination of antibiotics successfully treats the infection in the majority of cases. These must be taken for at least six months to avoid becoming ill with TB again and developing a drug-resistant form of the disease.
Even with treatment, some people develop long-term complications from infection.
Travellers to countries where TB is prevalent are at greater risk of the infection. A vaccine is available, which is offered to those at high risk of contracting the disease.