WHO 2011: Tuberculosis Cases Declining
Nice to know TB cases are going down. I believe this is the result of progressive advances in medical treatment and prevention.
Tuberculosis is one the oldest diseases known to affect humans and also the major cause of mortality worldwide. This disease is caused by bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it usually affects the lungs. But how can one get TB?
The Transmission
It is commonly transmitted from a person with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis to others by droplet transmission, through coughing, sneezing, or speaking. This droplet may contain as many as 3000 infectious nuclei per cough and may remain suspended in the air for several hours until it reaches the respiratory passage of another person when inhaled.
The Factors
Studies of close-contact situations have shown that TB patients whose sputum contains AFB visible by microscopy are the most likely to transmit the infection. Patients with sputum smear–negative/culture-positive tuberculosis are less infectious.
Crowding in poorly ventilated rooms is one of the most important factors in the transmission of this disease since it increases the intensity of contact with a TB-positive case.
In summary, the risk of acquiring this infection is determined mainly by exogenous factors, including the delays in seeking medical care and in making a diagnosis
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