Tuberculosis

Abstract

First , let us ascertain what Tuberculosis is . Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria which infects the lungs and hinders the proper functioning of the respiratory system . Pulmonary TB is when the lungs are infected , while extra-pulmonary TB is when the other portions of the body is infected like kidneys , bones , and even lymph nodes . Tuberculosis is a lingering epidemic which most people ignore . About 1 ,300 cases are reported annually in the state of New York alone . On a global scale more than one-third of the world 's population is

infected with this contagious disease . TB bacterium and the disease itself are considered one of the most dangerous and contagious disease in the world , which is causes relative diseases and death as well . More than 8 million people become ill with TB annually , and more than 2 million die from this dreaded disease alone . In 1995 , 22 of all foreign-born persons with TB (8 of the national these , 81 were reported by the four U .S . states bing Mexico -- Arizona , California , New Mexico , and Texas Causes of Tuberculosis and Modes of Transmission

The bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the primary culprit for the disease tuberculosis . In 1882 , Scientist Robert Koch discovered the bacteria , which he described as rod-shaped germs or bacilli in appearance with the help of his humble microscope . The bacteria can also inflict cattle animals , the bacterium in cattle is known as Mycobacterium bovis . Experts believe that Tuberculosis became wide-spread due to the domestic proliferation of cattle centuries ago TB germs can be transmitted from drinking a cow 's milk which is infected by the disease . However , pasteurization has helped farmers eliminate the disease from spoiling their cattle , because the pasteurization process destroys residual bacilli (Health-Cares .net , 2005

Tuberculosis can spread by the means of droplet infection alone . Such mode of transmission is ascertained whenever a TB patient exhales or coughs tiny droplets of fluid which carries tubercle bacilli that are air-borne . Such aerosol particles infiltrate the nasal passages and lungs of any susceptible individual nearby . Yet experts consider tuberculosis less contagious compared to other infectious diseases , yet is deemed the most fatal of all respiratory ailments . Fewer than 15 of more remote contacts are likely to be come infected from direct and indirect contact with a TB patient . With this in mind , Frequent and prolonged contact is needed to transmit the disease . Yet , whenever a severely infected patient emits massive numbers of bacilli , the greater the chances of inflicting susceptible people . Transmission of Tuberculosis is strict due to the fact that it is not transmitted through sharing of cooking utensils . Unfortunately , when an individual is pregnant , the fetus of an infected mother may contract TB by inhaling the bacilli in the amniotic fluid (Health-Cares .net , 2005

By the time it is inhaled , the bacilli could reach the small breathing sacs in the lungs called alveoli , where they are taken up by cells known as marcophages . The bacilli then proliferates itself by multiplying in...