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TB is found to be one of the fatal disease across world and in every age. Recent reports estimated that this disease is affecting nearly millions of lives including men (5.6 million), women (3.2 million) and children (1.2 million) globally. As per WHO, 1.4 million people died from this disease in 2019 and estimated 10 million people fell ill across world and it is also reported that 4000 lives due to this disease are killed and 28000 people are affected per day.

Global efforts are continuously giving to combat TB and save life. Reports estimated that global efforts saved an estimated 63 million lives since the year 2000.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease, caused by bacillus Mycobacterium, usually attack lungs, affecting individual’s immune system. It was first discovered by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882, who announced that he found bacteria that cause this disease, which in turn, opened the way for many healthcare and researchers to put lots of efforts towards diagnosing and curing this disease,   It also spread to other parts of the body like brain and spine and from one person to another through air droplets, when TB patient cough, spit or sneeze. Reports suggest that when come in close contact, patient with active TB can infect 5–15 other people 

The main cause of this disease is alcohol use and tobacco smoking. The common symptoms of TB may be from mild, which remain for several months to severe, includes fever, cough, weight loss and night sweats and can be diagnosed by taking a sample of the mucous, which goes for sputum sample testing. 

This disease can be prevented by early detection, screening and vaccination with the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and can be treated by the use of multiple or combinations of antibiotics over a long period. Antimicrobial drugs are given for around 6 months.

Theme

This year theme for World Tuberculosis Day is ‘The Clock is Ticking’, which spread awareness to act immediately against the disease to end up, and make people to realize that the world is running out of time, to act urgently on the commitments made by global leader to end TB.

TB is a treatable and curable disease

 Reports suggest that even this disease has devastating effect but if given proper treatment and care and keeping yourself aware, this disease can be cured. Many famous personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, who was diagnosed with TB of spine in 2000, undergone proper treatment, leading a normal and disease free life.