World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2022 | MediGence

Overview

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease, which mostly affects the lungs and can be lethal. Coughs and sneezes discharge microscopic droplets into the air, allowing tuberculosis bacteria to transmit from person to person. Tuberculosis is the world’s 13th largest cause of death and the second leading infectious killer (after HIV/AIDS), according to a WHO report published in 2020. By 2020, an estimated ten million people would have contracted tuberculosis (TB). In the United States, there are 5.6 million men, 3.3 million women, and 1.1 million children. Tuberculosis affects people of all ages and in all countries.

World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24th to promote public awareness about tuberculosis, which continues to be an epidemic in much of the world, killing around 1.5 million people each year, primarily in developing countries. The day is followed by a specific issue or theme each year, and the theme for this year (2022) is ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’

History of World TB Day

On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the germ that causes tuberculosis (TB). At the time, tuberculosis killed one out of every seven people in the United States and Europe. Dr. Koch’s discovery was the most important step toward the control and eradication of this fatal disease. A century later, March 24 was declared as World Tuberculosis Day, a day dedicated to raising public awareness of tuberculosis’ global effects.

Johann Schonlein coined the term “tuberculosis” in 1834, despite the fact that Mycobacterium tuberculosis may have existed for up to 3 million years. Robert further said that World Tuberculosis Day would not be celebrated until tuberculosis has been eradicated. It is, however, a crucial opportunity to educate the public about the devastating effects of tuberculosis and how it can be avoided.

World TB Day Virtual Press Conference 2022 | WHO

Symptoms & Causes of Tuberculosis

Patients with an active Tuberculosis will have the following signs and symptoms:

• Coughing for at least three weeks or more
• Blood or mucous coughing is quite a common symptom
• Chest pain, especially during breathing or coughing
• The weight reduction that occurs unintentionally
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Sweating at night
• Chills
• Appetite loss
• Tuberculosis can affect the kidneys, spine, and brain, among other organs. TB in organs other than the lungs has different indications and symptoms. Back pain can be caused by tuberculosis of the spine, but blood in the urine can be caused by TB of the kidneys.

Causes: Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread through the air in a form of tiny droplets from one person to the next. This can happen when someone with untreated active tuberculosis coughs, talks, sneezes, spits, laughs, or sings. Tuberculosis is significantly more likely to spread among your friends or coworkers than it is among strangers. Most tuberculosis patients are no longer contagious after receiving appropriate treatment for at least two weeks. HIV/tuberculosis (HIV/TB) and drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) are the two most common causes. Tuberculosis can affect anyone, but some variables, such as a compromised immune system, traveling or residing in particular places, IV medications or excessive alcohol use, smoking, working in healthcare, and living with someone infected with TB, might raise your risk.

Impact of TB in The World

A quarter of the world’s population has tuberculosis infection, which implies they’ve been infected but aren’t sick yet and can’t spread the disease. Tuberculosis is a 5–10% lifetime risk for people who have been infected with TB germs. People with impaired immunity, such as those with HIV, malnutrition, diabetes, or smokers, are more prone to get sick.

The WHO published a report on the global burden of tuberculosis (TB), which affects people in every country. It is estimated that in 2020, the largest number of people were infected with TB. To mention a few, 43% of new cases were found in the Southeast Asian region, 25% in the African region, and 18% in the Western-Pacific region. When a tuberculosis patient’s doctor notifies them that they have been diagnosed with the disease, they no longer need to be scared or panicked (TB). Tuberculosis is now treatable and thus curable, thanks to the recent medical advances.

Why Do We Commemorate World TB Day?

Every year on March 24, we observe World Tuberculosis Day to raise public awareness of the devastating health, social, and economic effects of tuberculosis (TB) and to increase efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date commemorates the announcement by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882 that he had discovered the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, paving the path for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Antimicrobial resistance is intensified by tuberculosis, which is the primary cause of death among HIV-positive patients. World TB Day is an effort to focus on the people who are affected by the disease and advocate for prompt action to end TB suffering and deaths, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

This year, we are focusing on a new theme with the same motive to end TB- ‘Invest to End TB. It emphasizes the essential need to increase resources in the battle against tuberculosis and meet world leaders’ commitments to eradicate the disease. Millions of lives will be saved with an increase in investment, accelerating the end of the TB epidemic.

Early Detection– Getting a right diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis as soon as possible is the most effective technique for preventing it. It is found that after two weeks of treatment, the majority of patients are no longer infectious.

Keep your family and friends safe– It normally takes a few weeks of TB medication before you are no longer contagious if you have active tuberculosis. To keep your friends and family away from getting sick, follow these steps:
Stay at home- Avoid going to work or school during the first several weeks of therapy, as well as sleeping in a shared room.

Ascertain that the space is well ventilated– Tuberculosis germs are more easily transferred in tiny, enclosed settings where air does not flow. Open the windows and use a fan to blow the inside air outside if it’s not too cold outside.

Must cover your mouth– Cover your mouth with a tissue when you laugh, sneeze, or cough. Place the soiled tissue in a bag, seal it, and discard it.

Put on a face mask– During the first three weeks of treatment, wearing a face mask when you’re around other people may help reduce the chance of transmission.

Keep Your Environment Clean– Since tuberculosis is an airborne disease, it is vital to keep our surroundings clean. The transmission of TB bacteria can be minimized by keeping proper ventilation, natural sources of light (UV light kills TB germs), and good hygiene (covering mouth while coughing and sneezing).

Complete your medication– This is the most critical step you can take to prevent tuberculosis in yourself and others. If you stop the treatment early or skip doses, TB germs have an opportunity to evolve alterations that allow them to withstand the most potent TB treatments. Therefore, drug-resistant strains are deadlier and more difficult to cure.

The BCG Vaccination– Since 1921, the BCG vaccination (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) has been the only life-saving and licensed tuberculosis vaccine available. This vaccine is made from a strain of Mycobacterium Bovis, a weakened bovine tuberculosis bacillus. The vaccine is 80% efficient in preventing tuberculosis and is significantly more successful in children with a complex form of the disease. Before beginning any medicine, you must consult with your doctor.

Getting back to the importance of the WORLD TB DAY, once again…
It is an approach to collect political and societal commitments in order to achieve long-term success in the fight to eradicate tuberculosis as a public health problem. Each year, about nine million people are diagnosed with tuberculosis, and around three million of them do not receive the treatment they need owing to a lack of healthcare access or misdiagnosis. It is past time for us to confront this terrifying situation and seek medical counsel in order to ensure quick diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in our communities.

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Reference Links:

• https://www.metrohospitals.com/blogs/pulmonology-sleep-medicine/world-tuberculosis-day-let-s-spread-awareness
• https://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday/default.htm