World tuberculosis day is celebrated every year on the 24th of March to raise public awareness about the overwhelming health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis, and to step up efforts to end the global tuberculosis epidemic. The date is in commemoration of the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes Tuberculosis (TB). This opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
According to the World Health Organization, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers. Each day, nearly 4000 lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill to this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 63 million lives since the year 2000. Eight countries accounted for two-thirds of the new TB cases: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and South Africa.
The theme of World TB Day 2021 ‘The Clock is Ticking’ – conveys the sense that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end TB made by global leaders.
World TB Day is a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world by sharing the success stories in prevention, control, and challenges that deter the elimination of the disease.
OVERVIEW OF TUBERCULOSIS
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and it most often affects the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable.
TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.
About one-quarter of the world’s population has a TB infection, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit it.
People infected with TB bacteria have a 5–10% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. Those with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition, or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill.
Who is most at risk?
Tuberculosis mostly affects adults in their most productive years. However, all age groups are at risk. Over 95% of cases and deaths are in developing countries.
People who are infected with HIV are 18 times more likely to develop active TB. Globally in 2019, there were 2.2 million new TB cases that were attributable to undernutrition.
Alcohol use disorder and tobacco smoking increase the risk of TB disease by a factor of 3.3 and 1.6, respectively.
Symptoms and Treatment
Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.
TB is a treatable and curable disease. Active, drug-susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard 6-month course of four (4) antimicrobial drugs.
Since 2000, an estimated 63 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment.
Getting a MetroHealth HMO insurance plan gives access to immunization against TB for newborn babies, TB diagnosis and treatment in all ages. This is invaluable to curbing the global pandemic.
