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Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, or TB, is a highly contagious lung disease
that is rampant in many places in the world. ... (Tuberculosis. ...
Tuberculosis. The ... But, what exactly is tuberculosis? Definition Tuberculosis
(TB), like the common cold, is an airborne virus. Though ...
Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused
by a germ (bacterium) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ...
Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (also known as "TB") is a disease caused by the bacteria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis which infects white blood cells. ...
Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis TB is a disease that can cause a serious illness
and can damage a person's organs. Every year more than ...
Submitted by Chase06 on March 21, 2008
Category: Science
Words: 1474 | Pages: 6
Views: 208
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The Saskatchewan Lung Association (2007) once said about tuberculosis "Over the centuries since Hippocrates, tuberculosis has been known as a major scourge of the human species." During the first half of the 20th Century, TB was called "consumption" or "white plague", and it was the number one killer of Canadians. The historic menace of the "White Plague" prevailed for so many centuries because people had a poor understanding of the disease and poor medical tools with which to fight it. But, what exactly is tuberculosis?
Definition
Tuberculosis (TB), like the common cold, is an airborne virus. Though it appears in various forms, such as in the bone, the most widely known form is pulmonary tuberculosis, which is the infectious type (Wikipedia, 2007).
Risk factors
Anyone of any age, race or nationality can contract TB, but certain factors increase one's risk of catching the disease. These factors include:
Lowered immunity: When one's immune system is healthy, macrophages can often successfully wall off TB bacteria, but one's body can't mount an effective defense if the resistance is low. A number of factors can weaken one's immune system. Having a disease that suppresses immunity, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes and receiving treatment with corticosteroids, arthritis medications or chemotherapy drugs. Other factors include age, history of substance abuse (alcohol or drug) and malnutrition.
Close contact with someone with infectious TB: In general, one needs to spend an extended period of time with someone with untreated, active TB to become infected. One is most likely to catch the disease from a family member, roommate, friend or co-worker. When infectious people cough, sneeze, talk or spit, they propel TB germs, known as bacilli, into the air.
Nationality: People from regions with high rates of TB especially Africa, Asia and Latin America, are more likely to develop TB.
Lack of...
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