Assistant Professor Doctor
"One of the oldest diseases in history, tuberculosis remains a global threat despite the advances in modern medicine."
Title:
| What is tuberculosis?
| How is tuberculosis transmitted?
| What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
| How is tuberculosis diagnosed?
| How is tuberculosis treated?
| What are the ways to prevent tuberculosis?
| The economic and social impacts of tuberculosis
| Who is at risk for tuberculosis?
| Current data on tuberculosis in the world
| Current data on tuberculosis in Turkey
| Misconceptions about tuberculosis
| Abstract
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a deadly infectious disease that is transmitted through the respiratory tract and affects millions of people worldwide every year. This disease, caused by a group of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most commonly targets the lungs but can also spread to other organs such as the brain, kidneys, and bones. Tuberculosis has killed millions of people throughout history. Despite advances in modern medicine, it continues to claim more than one million lives each year and remains a global public health crisis.
How is tuberculosis transmitted?
Tuberculosis is spread by airborne germs when a sick person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These germs can remain in the air and become infectious when a healthy person breathes them in. The risk of infection is particularly high in crowded, closed, and poorly ventilated places. It is not spread by shaking hands, drinking water from the same glass, or using shared objects.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
The most common symptom of tuberculosis is a persistent cough that lasts more than two weeks. This cough may produce sputum and sometimes blood. Other symptoms include fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. If these symptoms are present, it is important to see a doctor because early diagnosis makes treatment easier.
How is tuberculosis diagnosed?
To find out if you have tuberculosis, doctors usually do a sputum test and a chest X-ray. A skin test or blood test may also be done. If the tests show that you have the disease, further tests may be needed to make a definitive diagnosis. Early diagnosis makes treatment more successful.
How is tuberculosis treated?
Tuberculosis can be cured, but treatment takes time and requires regular medication. Patients usually need to take antibiotics for at least 6 months. It is very important to follow the doctor's instructions because stopping the medicine early can make the disease come back and be harder to treat. That’s why it is important to be patient and complete the treatment.
What are the ways to prevent tuberculosis?
The most important way to prevent tuberculosis is to avoid being in closed and unventilated spaces with sick people for long periods. This is because the disease is transmitted by germs that spread through the air with coughs and sneezes. Frequently ventilating the places where we live and work, eating a healthy diet, and keeping our immune system strong are effective in protecting against tuberculosis. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine protects against severe forms of the disease. It is mainly given to infants at risk. In addition, early detection and treatment of tuberculosis patients is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease.
The economic and social impacts of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is not only a health problem, but also an enormous economic and social burden. The disease can leave people unable to work for months, causing loss of income and hardship for their families. The lengthy treatment process increases the cost of hospitalization and medication. Particularly in low-income countries, tuberculosis deepens poverty and hurts the economy by reducing the labour force. In addition, people with the disease are sometimes ostracised from society, which can cause psychological damage. Tackling tuberculosis is therefore of great public health and economic importance.
Who is at risk for tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is more likely to develop in people with a weakened immune system. The elderly, young children, people with immunodeficiency diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and people undergoing cancer treatment are at higher risk. People who live in crowded and poorly ventilated environments, healthcare workers and people who live with someone who has tuberculosis are also at risk of developing the disease. Eating a healthy diet, breathing fresh air and having regular health checks are important in protecting against tuberculosis.
Current data on tuberculosis in the world
According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, 10.6 million new tuberculosis cases were detected worldwide in 2023. Of these cases, 6 million were men, 3.6 million were women and 1.3 million were children aged 14 years and under. In the same year, 1.3 million people died from tuberculosis.
Current data on tuberculosis in Turkey
The number of tuberculosis cases in Turkey has decreased in recent years. According to the Ministry of Health, 8,925 new tuberculosis cases were reported in 2022. This is a decrease from the 9,334 cases recorded in 2021. Turkey is performing well in the fight against tuberculosis and has made significant progress in access to diagnostic and treatment services.
Misconceptions about tuberculosis
One of the most common misconceptions is that the disease is genetic. Tuberculosis is not hereditary, but an airborne infectious disease. Another misconception is that tuberculosis is only found in poor countries. However, tuberculosis occurs in every country in the world. It is also believed that treatment can be stopped within a few weeks, but if treatment is stopped before completion, the disease becomes more resistant. It is also believed that tuberculosis only affects the lungs, but it can also affect other organs such as the kidneys, brain, and bones. Such misconceptions need to be corrected to prevent the disease from spreading and treatment from being delayed.
Abstract
Tuberculosis is a serious airborne infectious disease that most commonly affects the lungs. Symptoms include cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. It can be fatal if not diagnosed early. It can be fatal if not diagnosed early. Sputum tests and lung imaging methods are used for diagnosis. The World Health Organization recommends antibiotic combinations for 4-6 months to treat tuberculosis. However, treatment is becoming increasingly difficult due to antibiotic resistance. The most effective ways to prevent tuberculosis are to follow hygiene rules, reduce contact with sick people, and get the vaccine. Tuberculosis is not only a health problem, but also a major economic and social burden. The long treatment process leads to loss of labour and financial hardship, while patients are sometimes at risk of social exclusion. Therefore, early diagnosis and effective treatment are of utmost importance.
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