Find out more about tuberculosis

The cause

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Koch bacillus after the scientist who discovered it.

Transmission

Most individuals become infected when they breathe in droplets containing the tuberculosis bacterium. When untreated, a patient with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis will expel these droplets.

The consequences

Infection does not necessarily lead to illness. In many cases, an individual's own immunity will hold the infection in check all through life. In 10% of cases, the infection becomes an active disease. Individuals infected with HIV will have more than one chance in two to develop active tuberculosis in the course of their lives.

Infection and illness

Tuberculosis may affect any part of the body. Most sufferers develop pulmonary tuberculosis.
The consequences of tuberculosis

Detection

A diagnosis can only be confirmed with certainty after a bacterium has been detected. Many ill individuals expel the bacteria in their sputum. When that happens, examining the sputum under a microscope will confirm whether the disease is there. A chest X-ray examination may reveal a suspicious picture, but no picture will provide a sure diagnosis.

Treatment

Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, treatment must be applied. The WHO recommends the Directly Observed Treatment Strategy short course (DOTS), or directly supervised monthly ambulatory treatment. The patient follows a treatment scheme proven for its efficiency in the presence of an person trained to this effect. This person may be a health worker, a responsible member of the community or maybe a member of the family. Treatment consists of an intensive phase lasting 2-3 months with three to five drugs, followed by a continuation phase lasting 4-6 months with 2-3 drugs.
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