Tuberculosis and its treatment

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Chetana PATEL

Student no. 9804625

                          Tuberculosis

Introduction

T uberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is caused by several species of Mycobacterium, collectively called the tubercle bacillus.  The bacillus is a small, rod shaped bacterium that is extremely hardly; it can survive for months in state of dryness and can also resist the action of mild disinfectants.  

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease.  Like the common cold it spreads through the air.  Only people who are side with pulmonary tuberculosis are infectious when infectious people cough, sneeze, talk or spit, they propel TB germs, known as bacilli, into the air.  A person needs only to inhale small number of theses to be infected.

The tubercle bacillus was discovered and identified as the cause of tuberculosis in 1882 by the German physician Robert Koch.  Tuberculosis occurs in humans worldwide, and in many developing countries it is still cause of death.

The disease reached near epidemic proportions in the rapidly urbanizing and industrializing societies of Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Indeed, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death for all age groups in the western world from that period until the early 20th, at which time improved health and hygiene caused a gradual but continuing decline in its mortality rates.

New cases of TB worldwide roughly correlate with economic conditions: the highest incidences are seen in those countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America with the lowest gross national products. WHO estimates that eight million people get TB every year, of which 95% live in developing countries. An estimated 3 million people die from TB every year.

In industrialized countries, the steady drop in TB incidence began to level off in the mid-1980s. Much of this rise can be at least partially attributed to a high rate of immigration from countries with a high incidence of TB. It is also difficult to perform epidemiological surveillance and treatment in immigrant communities due to various cultural differences.

Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the microoragnism Mycobacterium.  It can affect several organs of the human  body, including the brain, the kidneys and the bones, bout most commonly, it affects the lungs ( pulmonary tuberculosis).  The primary or first phase of the infection usually lasts for several months.  During this period, the body’s natural defences ( immune system) resist the disease, and most or all of the bacteria are walled in by a fibrous capsule that develops around the area.  Before the attack is over, a few bacteria may escape into the bloodstream and are carried elsewhere in the body where are again walled in.  If the immune system fails to stop the infection, and it is left untreated , the disease progresses to the second phase, where the germ multiples rapidly and destroys the tissues of the lungs or the other affected organ.  Sometimes, the latent period is many years, and the bacteria become active when the opportunity present itself, especially when the immunity is low   The  second phase is manifested by destruction or consumption of the tissues of the affected organ.  When the lung is affected, it results in diminished respiratory capacity, associated with other symptoms; when other organs are affected even if treated adequately, it may leave a permanent disabling scar.

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Diagnose

Usually, the initial diagnostic/screening test for tuberculosis is the skin test.  A small amount of fluid is injected under the skin of the foreman: the fluid contains a protein derived from the micoorganism causing TB , and is absolutely harmless to the body.  The area is visually examined by a health professional after 48-72 hours to determine the result of the test.  A positive skin test does not mean that you have active diseases; rather, that you may have been exposed to the organism referred to as TB infection, at some time in the past.  If the result ...

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This is a very well researched report that includes a good amount of detail. 1. There needs to be a method for indicating which information comes from which source. 2. There are several references to research in which the primary source has not been included. 3. The language used is excellent as it is very concise. 4. The conclusion is very brief and does not summarize the main findings. ****