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If you have active TB illness, you will likely get treatment for six to twelve months with a mix of antibiotics. Isoniazid INH is frequently used in conjunction with the medications rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol to treat active TB. Even though you could start feeling better within a few weeks after taking the medication, TB treatment takes far longer than treating other bacterial diseases. To avoid getting sick again, making it harder to battle the illness in the future, or spreading the illness to others, you must continue taking your medicine as directed for the whole period your doctor advises. Drug-resistant TB may also result from not finishing your whole medication course.

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You should receive preventative treatment if you have contracted TB but do not yet have the illness. By using this medication, the disease-causing microorganisms are eliminated. The most typical preventative treatment is taking one daily dosage of the antibiotic isoniazid (INH) for six to nine months. If you have latent TB, you are not contagious.

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https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/treating-and-managing#:~:text=How%20Is%20Active%20TB%20Treated,—rifampin%2C%20pyrazinamide%20and%20ethambutol.

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If it is not treated, TB can be fatal. But TB can almost always be treated and cured if you take medicine as directed by your healthcare provider. Once you begin treatment, within weeks you will no lo

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https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/tuberculosis/docs/fact_sheet.pdf

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https://www.tbalert.org/about-tb/what-is-tb/prevention/#:~:text=The%20risk%20of%20infection%20can,the%20spread%20of%20TB%20bacteria.

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As with all health conditions, prevention of TB is always better than a cure. Although there is no sure-fire way to completely prevent the spread of TB at this point in time, there are a number of measures that can be put in place to reduce the spread of the illness.

The BCG vaccination

The BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) is a live vaccine against tuberculosis. The vaccine is prepared from a strain of the weakened bovine tuberculosis bacillus, Mycobacterium bovis.

The BCG is currently the only licensed vaccine against TB, and has been in use since 1921. It is one of the most widely used vaccines worldwide, yet we still see around 9 million new cases of TB annually - a testament to the BCG's limited effectiveness.

The BCG is:

80% effective in preventing TB for 15 years

more effective against complex forms of TB in children

of limited effectiveness in people over the age of 35

less effective when given in equatorial regions (due to high levels of naturally occurring environmental mycobacteria).

Early diagnosis

Early diagnosis and treatment is the most effective way to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

A person with infectious tuberculosis can infect up to 10-15 other people per year. But once diagnosed with TB, and started on treatment, the majority of patients are no longer infectious after just two weeks of taking the medication.

Case finding

Limiting the spread of TB depends on successfully finding and treating people with the illness, to prevent them from passing it on to others.

This can be done through raising awareness of TB, so people with TB symptoms know to seek help. Outreach workers and volunteers also work within communities with high rates of TB to find people with symptoms and refer them for testing.

When someone is diagnosed with infectious TB, their close contacts are screened for the illness - this is known as contact tracing.

Managing your environment

As TB is an airborne infection, TB bacteria are released into the air when someone with infectious TB coughs or sneezes. The risk of infection can be reduced by using a few simple precautions:

good ventilation: as TB can remain suspended in the air for several hours with no ventilation

natural light: UV light kills off TB bacteria

good hygiene: covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing reduces the spread of TB bacteria.

In healthcare settings, the spread of TB is reduced through the use of protective masks, ventilation systems, keeping potentially infectious patients separate from other patients, and the regular screening of healthcare workers for TB.

A healthy immune system

Having a healthy immune system is the best form of defence against TB: 60% of adults with a healthy immune system can completely kill TB bacteria.

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As with all health conditions, prevention of TB is always better than a cure. Although there is no sure-fire way to completely prevent the spread of TB at this point in time, there are a number of measures that can be put in place to reduce the spread of the illness.

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https://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday/history.htm

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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American Lung Association. The History of Christmas Seals. http://www.christmasseals.org/history/ Accessed Feb 13 2018.

Barberis, I., Bragazzi, NL., Galluzzo, M., Martini, M.. The history of tuberculosis: from the first historical records to the isolation of Koch's bacillus. J Prev Med Hyg. 2017; 58:E9-E12

Daniel, Thomas M. The history of tuberculosis. Respiratory Medicine. 2006; 100:862-1870

Daniel, Thomas M. Florence Barbara Seibert and purified protein derivative. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2007; 13(3):281-282

Daniel, TM and Iversen, PA. Hippocrates and tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2015; 19(4):373-374

Eddy, Jared J. The ancient city of Rome, its Empire, and the spread of tuberculosis in Europe. Tuberculosis. 2015; 95:S23-S28

Fogel, Nicole. Tuberculosis: A disease without boundaries. Tuberculosis 2015; 95:527-531

Frith, John. History of Tuberculosis. Part 1 - Phthisis, consumption and the White Plague. Journal of Military and Veteran's Health. 2014; 22(2):29-35

Institute of Medicine. Ending Neglect: The Elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States. Washington D.C., United States: National Academy Press; 2000

Lougheed, Kathryn. Catching Breath: The Making and Unmaking of Tuberculosis. London, Great Britain: Bloomsbury Sigma Publishing; 2017

Murray, JF., Schraufnagel, DE., Hopewell, PC.. Treatment of Tuberculosis: A Historical Perspective. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2015; 12(12):1749-1759

Patterson, S., Drewe, JA., Pfeiffer, DU, Clutton-Brock, TH,. Social and environmental factors affect tuberculosis related mortaility in wild meerkats. Journal of Animal Ecology> 2017; 86:442-450.

Perrin, Pascale. Himan and tuberculosis co-evolution: An integrative view. Tuberculosis. 2015; 95:S112-S116

Reibman, J., Rom, WN.. The History of the Bellevue Hospital Chest Service (1903-2015). AnnalsATS. 2015; 12(10):1438-1446

Riva, Michele A. From milk to rifampicin and back again: history of failures and successes in the treatment for tuberculosis. Journal of Antibiotics. 2014; 67:661-665

Rothschild, BM, Martin, LD, Lev, G, Bercovier, H, Bar-Gal, GK, Greenblatt,C, Donoghue, H, Spigelman, M, Brittain, D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex DNA from an Extinct Bison Dated 17,000 Years before the Present. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2001; 33:305-11

Ruggerio, Dan. A Glimpse at the Colorful History of TB: Its Toll and Its Effect on the U.S. and the World. TB Notes 2000. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2000 Atlanta GA.

Towey, Francesca. Historical Profile Leon Charles Albert Calmette and Jean-Marie Camille Guerin. The Lancet. 2015; 3:186-187

Tucker, Abigail. The Great New England Vampire Panic. Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-great-new-england-vampire-panic-36482878/ . Accessed Feb 2018.

United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Bovine Tuberculosis Disease Information. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/cattle-disease-information/sa_tuberculosis/ct_bovine_tuberculosis_disease_information. Accessed Feb 15 2018.

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History of World TB Day. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm#:~:text=What%20is%20TB%3F,they%20do%20not%20get%20treatment.

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What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of TB?

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

How is TB Spread?

TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.

What is the Difference Between Latent TB Infection and TB Disease?

People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.

People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.

What Should I Do If I Have Spent Time with Someone with Latent TB Infection?

A person with latent TB infection cannot spread germs to other people. You do not need to be tested if you have spent time with someone with latent TB infection. However, if you have spent time with someone with TB disease or someone with symptoms of TB, you should be tested.

What Should I Do if I Have Been Exposed to Someone with TB Disease?

People with TB disease are most likely to spread the germs to people they spend time with every day, such as family members or coworkers. If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should go to your doctor or your local health department for tests.

How Do You Get Tested for TB?

There are two tests that can be used to help detect TB infection: a skin test or TB blood test. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm. The TB blood tests measure how the patient's immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB.

What Does a Positive Test for TB Infection Mean?

A positive test for TB infection only tells that a person has been infected with TB germs. It does not tell whether or not the person has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.

What is Bacille Calmette-Guèrin (BCG)?

BCG is a vaccine for TB disease. BCG is used in many countries, but it is not generally recommended in the United States. BCG vaccination does not completely prevent people from getting TB. It may also cause a false positive tuberculin skin test. However, persons who have been vaccinated with BCG can be given a tuberculin skin test or TB blood test.

Why is Latent TB Infection Treated?

If you have latent TB infection but not TB disease, your doctor may want you to take a drug to kill the TB germs and prevent you from developing TB disease. The decision about taking treatment for latent infection will be based on your chances of developing TB disease. Some people are more likely than others to develop TB disease once they have TB infection. This includes people with HIV infection, people who were recently exposed to someone with TB disease, and people with certain medical conditions.

How is TB Disease Treated?

TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat. In some situations, staff of the local health department meet regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy (DOT). DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time.

Additional Information

CDC. Questions and Answers About TB.

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Fact Sheets | General | Tuberculosis: General Information | TB | CDC

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Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

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https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250

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When tuberculosis (TB) germs survive and multiply in the lungs, it is called a TB infection. A TB infection may be in one of three stages. Symptoms are different in each stage.

Primary TB infection. The first stage is called the primary infection. Immune system cells find and capture the germs. The immune system may completely destroy the germs. But some captured germs may still survive and multiply.

Most people don't have symptoms during a primary infection. Some people may get flu-like symptoms, such as:

Latent TB infection. Primary infection is usually followed by the stage called latent TB infection. Immune system cells build a wall around lung tissue with TB germs. The germs can't do any more harm if the immune system keeps them under control. But the germs survive. There are no symptoms during latent TB infection.

Active TB disease. Active TB disease happens when the immune system can't control an infection. Germs cause disease throughout the lungs or other parts of the body. Active TB disease may happen right after primary infection. But it usually happens after months or years of latent TB infection.

Symptoms of active TB disease in the lungs usually begin gradually and worsen over a few weeks. They may include:

Cough.

Coughing up blood or mucus.

Chest pain.

Pain with breathing or coughing.

Fever.

Chills.

Night sweats.

Weight loss.

Not wanting to eat.

Tiredness.

Not feeling well in general.

Active TB disease outside the lungs. TB infection can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body. This is called extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Symptoms vary depending on what part of the body is infected. Common symptoms may include:

Fever.

Chills.

Night sweats.

Weight loss.

Not wanting to eat.

Tiredness.

Not feeling well in general.

Pain near the site of infection.

Active TB disease in the voice box is outside the lungs, but it has symptoms more like disease in the lungs.

Common sites of active TB disease outside the lungs include:

Kidneys.

Liver.

Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Heart muscles.

Genitals.

Lymph nodes.

Bones and joints.

Skin.

Walls of blood vessels.

Voice box, also called larynx.

Active TB disease in children. Symptoms of active TB disease in children vary. Typically, symptoms by age may include the following:

Teenagers. Symptoms are similar to adult symptoms.

1- to 12-year-olds. Younger children may have a fever that won't go away and weight loss.

Infants.The baby doesn't grow or gain weight as expected. Also, a baby may have symptoms from swelling in the fluid around the brain or spinal cord, including:

Being sluggish or not active.

Unusually fussy.

Vomiting.

Poor feeding.

Bulging soft spot on the head.

Poor reflexes.

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Tuberculosis-Tuberculosis - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic

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Learn about the prevention and treatment of this disease that causes serious illness around the world.

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Tuberculosis is spread via the air when a person with untreated TB illness of the lungs coughs, sneezes, laughs, or sings. A person must have extended close contact with someone who has untreated TB lung disease in order to breathe in TB germs and become sick.

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Individuals that are more susceptible to TB

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Individuals that are more susceptible to TB

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Tuberculosis has the potential to impact individuals of all ages. If a person is infected with TB but shows no signs of illness, there is an increased likelihood of developing TB disease under certain circumstances. These circumstances include having a co-existing HIV infection, being under the age of 5, being exposed to TB germs within the past 2 years, having underlying health conditions like diabetes that compromise the body's ability to fight off germs, engaging in alcohol or drug abuse, or having had inadequate treatment for TB disease in the past.

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Timely identification and intervention prove to be the most efficient approach in the prevention of tuberculosis. An individual who has contracted tuberculosis can potentially spread the disease to approximately 10-15 other individuals annually. However, once diagnosed with TB and commencing treatment, the majority of patients become non-infectious after a mere two weeks of taking the prescribed medication.

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During the initial phase known as the primary infection, the immune system's cells locate and capture the pathogens. Although the immune system has the ability to eliminate the pathogens entirely, some of them may still persist and reproduce even after being captured.
The majority of individuals do not experience any symptoms when they first become infected. However, a portion of people might exhibit flu-like symptoms, including but not limited to: Mild fever, Tiredness, and cough

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Tuberculosis Shown in an Individuals Lungs

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Tuberculosis, also referred to as TB, is an airborne disease that is spread through contact with other individuals.

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Dr. Robert Koch made a significant breakthrough on March 24, 1882, when he unveiled his findings on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (TB). At that time, TB claimed the lives of approximately one in every seven individuals in the United States and Europe. Dr. Koch's revelation marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight against this fatal illness, as it provided a crucial foundation for its control and potential eradication.

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Latent tuberculosis (TB) infection occurs after the primary infection and is characterized by the immune system forming a protective barrier around lung tissue to contain the TB germs. Although the germs remain in the body, they are kept under control by the immune system, resulting in no noticeable symptoms during this stage.

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Active tuberculosis (TB) disease occurs when the immune system fails to control an infection. The infection caused by germs can affect the lungs or other areas of the body. While active TB disease may occur shortly after the initial infection, it typically manifests several months or even years after the initial latent TB infection.
The signs of active tuberculosis (TB) infection in the respiratory system typically start slowly and deteriorate over a period of several weeks. These symptoms may comprise:
-Cough
-Coughing up Blood
-Chest pain
-Pain with Breathing
-Fever
-Chills
-Night Sweats
-Weight Loss
-Loss of Appetite