World Tuberculosis Day
- Jeronnie Richardson (MBA)
- Mar 24, 2019
- 2 min read
Happy World Tuberculosis Day, everyone!
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day falls on 24 March every year, and is intended to raise public awareness that tuberculosis remains an epidemic in much of the world — causing the deaths of almost one and a half million people each year, mostly in developing nations. The day marks the date in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch astonished the scientific community by announcing that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis: the TB bacillus. At the time of Koch's announcement in Berlin, TB was raging through Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one in every seven people. His discovery opened the way towards diagnosing and curing TB.
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or talks.
If you believe you may have been exposed, it's worth seeing your doctor for testing. You are more likely to develop TB if you have a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of TB in the lungs may include:
A bad cough lasting three weeks or longer
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Coughing up blood or mucus
Weakness or fatigue
Fever
Night sweats
Skin tests, blood tests, X-rays and other tests can determine whether you have TB. If it isn't treated properly, TB can be dangerous — but active TB can usually be cured by taking a course of medication over a period of time, under medical supervision. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak with a qualified medical professional or your local health authority.
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Again, happy World TB Day — and see you soon!!
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