Tuberculosis - Causes, Symptoms and Factors That Could Put You at Risk

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease that is more popular in developing countries.  The bacteria that cause tuberculosis spreads from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes into the body mainly affects your lungs.

In this article, we shall be looking at the cause, symptoms, and risk factors. The test, prevention and treatment would be considered in the following article with the link below.

Causes

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings.

Although tuberculosis is contagious, unlike the general view, it’s not easy to catch. You're much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you live with or work with than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.

Some general cases that could lead to the eruption and quick spread of Tuberculosis includes

• HIV - people with HIV are many times more likely to get TB and to progress from latent to active disease than are people who aren't HIV positive. This is because infection with HIV suppresses the immune system, making it difficult for the body to control TB bacteria. The number of cases of tuberculosis has increased dramatically because of the spread of HIV Since the 1980s.

• Drug Resistance of the Bacteria - Another reason tuberculosis remains a major killer is the increase in drug-resistant strains of the bacterium. Drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis emerge when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria it targets. The surviving bacteria become resistant to that particular drug and frequently other antibiotics as well, and that ability gets passed on to their descendants. Some TB bacteria have developed resistance to the most commonly used treatments, such as isoniazid and rifampin.

Symptoms

Although your body may harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between those who carries the TB bacteria. Thus we have :

• Latent TB - In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn't contagious. However, it can turn into active TB, so treatment is important for the person with latent TB and to help control the spread of TB in general. An estimated 2 billion people have latent TB. 

• Active TB - This condition makes you sick and can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later.

Signs and symptoms of active TB include:

• Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Loss of appetite

Tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis of the spine may give you back pain, and tuberculosis in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.

Factors That Could Put You at Risk of Contacting Tuberculosis

Anyone can get tuberculosis, but certain factors can increase your risk of the disease. These factors include:

Weakened immune system

A healthy immune system often successfully fights TB bacteria, but your body can't mount an effective defense if your resistance is low. A number of diseases and medications can weaken your immune system, including:

• HIV/AIDS
• Diabetes
• End-stage kidney disease
• Certain cancers
• Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy
• Drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organs
• Some drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis
• Malnutrition
• Very young or advanced age

Traveling or living in certain areas

The risk of contracting tuberculosis is higher for people who live in or travel to countries that have high rates of tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis, such as:

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• India
• China
• Russia
• Pakistan

Poverty and substance abuse

• Lack of medical care. If you receive a low or fixed income, live in a remote area, have recently immigrated to the United States, or are homeless, you may lack access to the medical care needed to diagnose and treat TB.
• Substance abuse. IV drug use or alcohol abuse weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to tuberculosis.
• Tobacco use. Using tobacco greatly increases the risk of getting TB and dying of it.

Where you work or live

• Health care work. Regular contact with people who are ill increases your chances of exposure to TB bacteria. Wearing a mask and frequent hand-washing greatly reduce your risk.
• Living or working in a residential care facility. People who live or work in prisons, immigration centers or nursing homes are all at a higher risk of tuberculosis. That's because the risk of the disease is higher anywhere there is overcrowding and poor ventilation.
• Living in a refugee camp or shelter. Weakened by poor nutrition and ill health and living in crowded, unsanitary conditions, refugees are at especially high risk of tuberculosis infection. 

www.mayoclinic.com,  www.webmd.com