What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB is an infection which is caused by a form of bacteria known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. This infection causes significant damage to the lungs and is commonly spread by the actions of coughing and sneezing.
Statistics
Tuberculosis kills more than 3 million people each year, with most of those coming from the developing world.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
Symptoms usually include prolonged coughing, which may in time result in a patient coughing up phlegm or blood.
Is tuberculosis curable?
Many people who are affected by TB do recover in time. In the developing world, however the death rates are higher as there is a widespread lack of resources and suitable healthcare provision; poor sanitation can also contribute to the spread of the infection.
Preventing TB
In developed countries many people are offered an immunisation known as the BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin). This vaccine is not widely available in developing countries and therefore millions of people are vulnerable to this disease.