About Tuberculosis (TB) • Consumption • Phthisis • White Plague

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Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by

  • Tuberculosis (TB)

  • Consumption

  • Phthisis

  • White Plague

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. When someone has TB, they might feel very tired, lose weight, have a fever, sweat a lot at night, and cough up mucus or blood.

TB spreads through the air when someone with the disease coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria. Not everyone infected with TB will get sick immediately; some people carry the bacteria, called latent TB, without showing symptoms. However, about 5% of people with latent TB will develop active TB within two years, and another 5% might get sick later in life. There are two main types of TB:

  • Latent TB: The bacteria are in your body, but you don't feel sick and can't spread it to others. However, it can turn into active TB later.

  • Active TB: You have symptoms, and you can spread the bacteria to others. This type needs treatment immediately.

How is it diagnosed?

  • Medical History: Doctors ask about your symptoms and if you've been around someone with TB.

  • Physical Examination: They check for signs like swollen lymph nodes or listen to your lungs.

  • Skin Test: A small amount of tuberculin is injected under the skin, and the reaction is checked after 48-72 hours.

  • Blood Tests: These look for your immune system's reaction to TB.

  • Chest X-ray: This can show signs of TB in the lungs.

  • Sputum Tests: Doctors check your spit for TB bacteria.

  • Other Lab Tests: These can include tests for drug resistance or to confirm the diagnosis.

How is it treated?

Latent TB:

  • Isoniazid for 6-9 months.

  • Rifampin or Rifapentine for 3-4 months.

Active TB Disease:

  • Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide for 6-9 months.

  • New 4-month regimen: 8 weeks of daily Isoniazid, Rifapentine, Pyrazinamide, and Moxifloxacin, followed by 9 weeks of daily Rifapentine, Isoniazid, and Moxifloxacin.

Trend

  • The number of people in the US that have it: In 2022, there were 8,300 reported cases of TB in the US.

  • The number of people that have had it in the last five years: The CDC reports 41,500 cases from 2018 to 2022.

  • The Five-year projection: The CDC does not provide specific projections, but with current control measures, the incidence of TB is expected to continue to decline.

History

Tuberculosis has been around for thousands of years. Evidence suggests it was present in human remains from 9,000 years ago. It spread along trade routes and through domesticated animals. In the 19th century, TB was a major killer in Europe and America, with one in four deaths attributed to it. Robert Koch's discovery of the TB bacteria in 1882 was a big step forward. Over time, treatments like sanatoria, where patients rested in fresh air, and the development of drugs like streptomycin in the 1940s helped control the disease.

Source of Information

For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.


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