Tuberculosis Information
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TB is back among us. It can strike anyone, at anytime, but is nevertheless most active among the poorest nations and societies[1]. One third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis and 7-8 million people develop the disease annually. During 2000, there was an increase in cases of 17% in the UK. The London region, where notification rates have doubled since 1988, has the highest proportion of cases (43%)[2]
In the tradition
of all great epidemics, TB touched every level of society and every kind of
individual. There was no reason why the most talented should be spared, and
the effects can be traced through music and the arts. Some writers and artists,
thus giving the disease a prominent place in literature, used tuberculosis
as a theme. Famous authors and poets with TB include John Keats, Robert Louis
Stevenson, Jane Austen and George Orwell. Tuberculosis 'carried away all five
Bronte sisters at a young age'1. Other famous individuals with TB include
the composers Chopin and Stravinsky and the artist Modigliani. Other famous
people treated for TB include Vivien Leigh, Nelson Mandela, Tina Turner and
Tom Jones!
A germ causes tuberculosis. It can affect any part of the body but most commonly
affects the lungs. TB is infectious only if it is in the lungs. It can be
transmitted to others if the person with TB coughs and other people breathe
the same air. It cannot be passed to others by shaking hands or sharing utensils.
TB is curable. Taking all the treatment as prescribed is very important.
People with TB usually have three or more of these symptoms:
* fever
* night sweats
* loss of appetite
* unexplained weight loss
* lethargy
* (TB in the lungs) a cough that lasts for three weeks or longer and does not respond to antibiotics
* the cough may be dry or you may cough phlegm
* in advanced TB there may be flecks of blood in the phlegm
The spread of TB may be reduced by:
* identifying those with TB disease and starting treatment quickly
* increased awareness about the signs of TB among the public and health care workers
* covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing
* going to your General Practitioner if you have a cough that lasts for three weeks or longer
* BCG vaccine (the BCG vaccine may provide some protection but does not prevent all types of the disease in everyone)
References:
1. Chretien, J (1998) Tuberculosis The illustrated history
of the disease Volume 1 Hauts-de-France : France
2. Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) (2001) Tuberculosis
Update PHLS:London
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