Many of us felt that TB was going the way of smallpox and polio. But now, new information from Great Britain and around the world indicates that TB is on the rise and governments are taking steps meet the increased caseload caused by this condition. According to some published reports, there are over 7,000 cases of TB in the UK and the number is steadily increasing. World wide over 10 million people are infected with the TB germ. In fact, a World Health Organization official described its severity as being "Ebola with wings."
The United States is not immune from this outbreak. In fact, Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D., former Secretary of Health and Human Services voiced her concern, writing, "Tuberculosis (a nineteenth century disease) has come back with a vengeance. In this century we have a more deadly version: multi-drug resistant tuberculosis."
We've all had the TB Skin Test, but how many of us actually know what TB really is or what it can do to its victims. TB, or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of your body, but they usually attack the lungs. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States. And it appears to be making a comeback to its previous position on the mortality charts. Tuberculosis can be treated with medication and leave no lasting side effects on the patient. TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
There is good news for people with TB disease. TB disease can almost always be cured with medication, but it must be taken as the physician prescribes.
Go To Page: 1 2
