The Significance Of World Tuberculosis Day
March 24, 2022
- Brief History Of Tuberculosis
- What Is Tuberculosis?
- What Happens If You Get Tuberculosis?
- Can Tuberculosis Be Cured?
- The Significance of World Tuberculosis Day
- What Is The Theme Of World TB Day 2022?
- Final Thought
Each year, we recognize World Tuberculosis Day on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB). World Tuberculosis Day is a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world. Continue reading further to learn more about the significance of TB Day.
BRIEF HISTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS
Tuberculosis (TB) a serious infection of the lungs is caused by a bacterium that spreads through tiny droplets released in the air when one coughs or sneezes. While the term tuberculosis was coined by Johann Schonlein in 1834, it is believed that the infection has been around for 3 million years. Tuberculosis was called “phthisis” in ancient Greece, “tabes” in ancient Rome, and “schachepheth” in ancient Hebrew.
By the 1700s, tuberculosis was called “the white plague” due to the pale appearance of the patients. It was on March 24, 1882, that the bacteria causing TB was discovered by Dr. Robert Koch. A century later, the World TB Day observance began on the same day..
WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS?
Tuberculosis is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. Once rare in developed countries, tuberculosis infections began increasing in 1985, partly because of the emergence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV weakens a person’s immune system, so it can’t fight TB germs. In the United States, because of stronger control programs, tuberculosis began to decrease again in 1993. But it remains a concern.
Many tuberculosis strains resist the drugs most used to treat the disease. People with active tuberculosis must take many types of medications for months to get rid of the infection and prevent antibiotic resistance.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET TUBERCULOSIS?
Although your body can harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:
- Latent TB. You have a TB infection, but the bacteria in your body are inactive and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn’t contagious. Latent TB can turn into active TB, so treatment is important.
- Active TB. Also called TB disease, this condition makes you sick and, in most cases, can spread to others. It can occur weeks or years after infection with the TB bacteria.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
- Coughing for three or more weeks
- Coughing up blood or mucus
- 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 the kidneys, spine, or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs, and symptoms vary according to the organs involved.
CAN TUBERCULOSIS BE CURED?
With treatment, TB can almost always be cured. A course of antibiotics will usually need to be taken for 6 months. Several different antibiotics are used because some forms of TB are resistant to certain antibiotics. If you’re infected with a drug-resistant form of TB, treatment with 6 or more different medications may be needed.
The BCG vaccine offers protection against TB and is recommended for babies, children, and adults under the age of 35 who are considered to be at risk of catching TB.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY
Tuberculosis perhaps appears to be an old disease affecting approximately 2 billion people worldwide. In fact, according to WHO, 10.4 million individuals got tuberculosis, and 1.7 million people died from this infectious disease in 2016. However, due to some misconceptions, it is not seen as a serious crisis. However, raising the understanding of the disease can help those who are in high danger and seeking treatment. If the individuals who are at risk are vaccinated properly, the disease might be cured, and tuberculosis could be eliminated.
WHAT IS THE THEME OF WORLD TB DAY 2022?
The theme of World TB Day 2022 – is ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage,” according to WHO (World Health Organization).
FINAL THOUGHT
Every year on 24 March, World Tuberculosis Day is commemorated to promote public awareness about tuberculosis’ severe health, social and economic implications. Approximately one-third of the world’s population has latent tuberculosis, which refers to people who have been infected with TB bacteria but have not yet developed symptoms. Therefore, on behalf of Soma Tech Intl, we would like to help raise TB awareness. Was this article informative? What are your thoughts on World TB Day? How do you help support this awareness? Leave us a comment below!