Tuberculosis (cont.)
How common is TB, and who gets it?
Over 8 million new cases of TB occur each year worldwide. In the United
States, it is estimated that 10-15 million people are infected with the TB
bacteria and 22,000 new cases of TB occur each year.
Anyone can get TB, but certain people are at higher risk, including
- people who live with individuals who have an active TB infection,
- poor or homeless people,
- foreign-born people from countries that have a high prevalence of TB,
- nursing home residents and prison inmates,
- alcoholics and intravenous drug users,
- people with diabetes, certain cancers, and
HIV infection (the AIDS virus),
and
- health-care workers.
There is no strong evidence for a genetically determined (inherited)
susceptibility for TB.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
As previously mentioned, TB infection usually occurs initially in the upper
part (lobe) of the lungs. The body's immune system, however, can stop the
bacteria from continuing to reproduce. Thus, the immune system can make the lung
infection inactive (dormant). On the other hand, if the body's immune system
cannot contain the TB bacteria, the bacteria will reproduce (become active or
reactivate) in the lungs and spread elsewhere in the body.
It may take many months from the time the infection initially gets into the
lungs until symptoms develop. The usual symptoms that occur with an active TB
infection are a generalized tiredness or weakness, weight loss,
fever, and night
sweats. If the infection in the lung worsens, then further symptoms can include
coughing, chest pain, coughing up of sputum (material from the lungs) and/or
blood, and shortness of breath. If the infection spreads beyond the lungs, the
symptoms will depend upon the organs involved.
Next: How does a doctor diagnose tuberculosis? »
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