Tuberculosis : A Infectious Disease Essay

Once believed to be easily treated and prevented, Tuberculosis (TB) has recently been making a steady comeback. Previous to modern medicine, TB claimed millions of victims, spreading from person to person like wildfire. Around the 17th-18th centuries, the “White Plague” took the lives of 1 in 5 adults (20%) in Europe and North America (Iseman, 1994). However, as technological advances progressed, this seemingly ferocious viral disease became a primal, insignificant thing of the past. But, in the nature of all bacteria, TB has, in the recent years, mutated to become progressively drug resistant. Why is Tuberculosis coming back with a vengeance? Well, the answer’s quite simple. TB has done an amazing job of standing in the corner and

This paper discusses the historical aspect of the fatal and contagious disease now known as tuberculosis. It discusses the history of Tuberculosis beginning with Ancient Egyptian mummies to the most current discovery of TB. Greek philosopher such as Hippocrates and Plato observed the first cases of tuberculosis. They are two out of the many people that gradually discovered the TB out of the many. It talks about the different remedies that different philosophers and physicians came about that have been revised.

Last summer, I participated in Undergraduate Research funded by the Colorado-Wyoming Alliance for Minority Participation at Colorado state University. I was placed in Dr. Chatterjee’s lab and worked with Dr. Prithwiraj to develop a new diagnostic method for Tuberculosis. My responsibility was to come up with a diagnostic method that was not only more sensitive, but cheaper and faster than the diagnostic method they were using. Dr. Prithwiraj provided guidance throughout the project. He went above and beyond and was very helpful while allowing me to learn on my own.

Tuberculosis is one of the major causes of death from many infectious diseases (3). Out of 9 million people who are infected with mycobacteria, about 2 million deaths occur from tuberculosis every year (3). Unfortunately, the prevalence of tuberculosis is in a continuous increase due to increased number of Human immunodeificnecy virus (HIV) patients, bacterial resistance to anti-tuberculous drugs, and growing number of recreational drug users (3). The pathogen responsible for bacterial infection, potentially causing tuberculosis, is mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) (2). Persons with adequate immune system can control the bacterial infection so mycobacteria remain dormant for a long time (11). In a typical tuberculous granuloma, mature

Tuberculosis was one of the first infectious diseases to be documented in human history and continues to afflict and co-evolve with humanity today. This disease is prevalent in mankind as well as in other animals through of the genus of bacteria called Mycobacterium. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also known as “Bacillus of Koch,” is the species of tuberculosis most common in humans. It is estimated this causative bacterium evolved 50,000 years ago and was discovered in 1883 by Robert Koch (see figure 1). Koch discovered TB by comparing tuberculosis-infected tissue dissections from guinea pigs, brains, lungs of people who had died from blood-borne tuberculosis, and the lungs of chronically infected

Tuberculosis today has established its roots as a global epidemic killing more than two million people each year and threatening the lives of the billions it infects. Although tuberculosis has been a notifiable disease since the 1990s, the impact of the disease has been underestimated due to lack of data on incidence and financial burden of the illness. Trends in recent years indicate that tuberculosis incidence rates have not only stabilized but declined steadily which indeed is phenomenal progress. But while progress is being made one should not forget the fact that tuberculosis still is the leading cause of death worldwide among HIV/AIDS infected individuals and

Tuberculosis is among the fatal diseases that are spread through the air. It’s contagious, meaning that it spreads from one infected individual to another, and at times it spreads very fast. In addition to being contagious, the disease is an opportunist infection as it takes advantage of those with weak defense mechanism, and especially the ones with terminal diseases like HIV and AIDS. Tuberculosis is therefore among the major concerns for the World Health Organization due to its contagious nature (World Health Organization 1).

This paper contains information about the communicable disease known as tuberculosis. The “American Heritage Dictionary” defines tuberculosis as a disease of men and animals caused by microorganism that manifests itself in lesions of the lung, bones, and other parts of the body. (American Heritage Dictionary: pg. 1301). This paper contains a summary of the history of the disease, the cause of the disease, ways to prevent the disease, and the medication and treatment for the disease. This disease has been around for a long time and there is still no cure for it only treatments.

Tuberculosis is one of the leading infectious diseases around the world. Globally, infectious diseases like tuberculosis among others continue to be one of the leading causes of death in children, adolescents and of the leading causes in adults (WHO). The purpose of this article is to examine and discuss mostly the etiology of tuberculosis, as well as its cause and spread. To better understand the subject of tuberculosis as an infectious disease and the problem it poses throughout the world, the following questions would be answered: What are the factors important in the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases? How do sufferers and non-sufferers view tuberculosis? What is the impact of

Tuberculosis has been an influential part of global history, causing negative affects worldwide. In fact, tuberculosis caused about 1.3 million deaths in 2012 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). This re-emerging infectious disease is relevant to the function and development of the global economy and healthcare system. When learning about the physiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its effects on the human body, one can understand the hardships of current epidemics and the call that we as citizens of this world have to help those who are vulnerable to tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) – an infectious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), continues to be one of 21th century’s greatest public health concerns. Attempts at

Tuberculosis is as old as mankind. It was first officially recognised by Hippocrates who described the symptoms of the disease as coughing up blood and weight loss that eventually led to death. In the 16th century a theory was proposed that the disease was transmitted via microorganisms. This was not proven until 1882. In the 1880’s, the chosen way of curing tuberculosis was for the patients to receive clear air, a balanced diet and plenty of rest. This was used not only to treat the patients but to also isolate them. During the 19th century, the spread of the disease slowed as living conditions and hygiene improved. In the 20th century a vaccination was developed as well as antibiotics. This resulted in the disease declining dramatically. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the disease reappeared again due to the aids epidemic. Due to the aids sufferers having a weaker immune system, they were more

Tuberculosis is common health problem that affects many people all around the world. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define Tuberculosis as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This particular bacterium attacks the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any area of the body. This disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States. TB is often spread through the air from person to person. CDC says “TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings” (“Basic TB Facts,” 2012). The three articles I have chosen to go into detail on are listed as follows, 1) Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant and Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis within Households: A prospective cohort study, 2) Preventing Infectious Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Foreign-Born Residents of the United States, and 3) People-centered tuberculosis care versus standard directly observed therapy.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious disease that could cause death if it is not treated. TB is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it affects the lungs and other human organs (Frith, 2014). Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that could be transmitted by sneezing, coughing, and speaking. According to world health organization (WHO), 9.6 million people were affected by Tuberculosis and 1.5 million died from the disease in 2014 worldwide. 9,421 cases of Tuberculosis were reported in United States in 2014 which has declined comparing to 26,673 cases reported in 1992. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are seven high-risk factor countries that are affected by Tuberculosis. Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, India, china, Haiti, and Guatemala are the countries which still have high risk of Tuberculosis infection. Throughout history Tuberculosis was associated with different names. Some of those names are: phthisis and consumption in 18th century, white death and the great white plague in 19th century and other names to describe the horror caused by the disease. Previously people have used human breast milk, eating wolf livers, drinking elephant urine, and etc.as a treatment for TB (Frith,2014). In 21st century Tuberculosis is treated by medications like: isoniazid (INH), Rifampin (RIF), Rifapentine (RPT), Ethambutol (EMB), and Pyrazinamide (PZA). The treatments are highly effective and are used to treat people who are exposed and

Although decades of worship bring a light of new chemical classes and moieties for the treatment of tuberculosis and still running to enlighten more possible ways to withstand and draw a full stop to the condition, the standard reports of tuberculosis enlisting cases are still on the increment side rather to declining state. Since 90s the regimen of anti-TB drugs is well established but now it is under red alters concern as the drugs are resistant to the causative bacilli, M. tuberculosis, endangering mostly the developing countries and disease prone areas of the world. With the motivation of new drug approved for the disease, the moieties in the pipe line for the consideration of being a successful drug, the review also concerns about