24/03/2026
□ Tuberculosis has surfaced as a threat to more lives in developing countries. Who is at risk of Tuberculosis Infection?
●TB has been irritating humans since 9 000 years ago ( Eastern Mediterranean Achaelogical Sites) Even after the invention of a microscope, today TB remains the leading killer when it comes to infectious diseases, only exceeded by Covid-19. A disease that was once declining is making a come back.
●TB can be Latent or Active. Individuals with Latent TB do not show signs and some don't know that they have it because the TB bacteria is dormant or sleeping . Latent TB cannot spread between people but it can change into Active TB. Latent TB can be treated with specialised drugs.
Active TB show signs such as coughing, fever, weight loss etc. Like greased lightning it can spread to other people because its bacteria will be multiplying rapidly in the host's body, damaging tissues such as lungs, bones etc. Active TB can be treated, but lack of compliance to drugs can make the bacteria to learn medications and come back with more resistance and, making it fatal too. Who is more vulnerable to TB infection?
● 1. Children and Infants
This age group vulnerability is caused by evolving immune system that may fail to battle TB infection.
● 2. People living with Chronic Illnesses
People living with HIV, Cancer, Diabetes, Kidney disease also have a high risk of suffering from TB. This is because these illnesses burdens the body immune system, making the body to create an environment where Latent TB can become Active TB.
● 3. People who take drugs
Smoking, alcohol abuse, and sniffing drugs increases the chances of TB infection because drugs directly supress body cells immune response. Drugs also damages the lung tissues and this makes the TB bacteria to enter this tissue easily.
● 4. The Elderly
The immune system of old people weaken as they age and this weaken body response and the ability to fight TB. Eating balanced diet, suplements and exercising can reduce the risk of this infection.
● 5. People who live in crowded places
TB spreads rapidly in crowded, poor ventilated places eg: Prisons, among homeless individuals, etc.
● Although the assumption of lungs being the only victim of TB is popular, other body organs such as kidneys, the brain, stomach, interstines, the skin etc can also be affected by TB
● Protect yourself from TB by good ventilation (opening windows for air free flow), eating balanced diet, having plenty of sleep and exercising to build a strong immune system.
Practicing good hygiene: cover the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, wash hands regularly, wear a mask when visiting an infected person or when in hospitals. , ,