World TB Day: TB Can Affect Any Body Part, One Quarter Of The World Is Infected With It – Lesser Known Facts About The Disease

World Tuberculosis Day 2023: Tuberculosis can infect the bones, joints and the central nervous system, and is one of the oldest known diseases.

World Tuberculosis Day 2023: While tuberculosis is usually associated with coughing, the truth is that the disease not only affects the lungs, but can impact any organ or system of the body. About one quarter of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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Tuberculosis is one of the oldest known diseases, and was a deadly disease in the 1800s, because it killed one out of every seven persons living in the United States and Europe. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism of tuberculosis, was discovered by Dr Robert Koch on March 24, 1882. In order to commemorate the discovery of the bacterium, World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24. 

While tuberculosis is usually associated with coughing, the truth is that the disease not only affects the lungs, but can impact any organ or system of the body. Also, about one quarter of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and only a small portion of the infected persons become sick with tuberculosis. 

Here are some lesser known facts about tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis can infect the bones, joints and the central nervous system, and is one of the oldest known diseases.

“Tuberculosis can affect any part of the body, and not just the lungs. It can cause infections in bones, joints, and the central nervous system, among other areas,” Dr Ambarish Joshi, Senior Consultant – Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, tells ABP Live.

Dr Joshi adds that tuberculosis is one of the oldest known diseases, with evidence of its existence dating back to over 9,000 years ago.

“Not everyone who is exposed to tuberculosis bacteria becomes infected, and not everyone who becomes infected develops active tuberculosis disease,” says Dr Joshi.

According to Dr Joshi, tuberculosis is curable with a long course of antibiotics, but treatment can take up to six months and requires strict adherence to medication regimens.

People often think that if a person coughs incessantly, he or she has tuberculosis. However, tuberculosis does not always mean coughing, and can affect any system of the body. 

Mantoux Test is a widely used test to detect latent tuberculosis infection. QuantiFERON Gold is also a test used to detect infection with tuberculosis. "However, Mantoux Test and QuantiFERON Gold are not a diagnostic modality for tuberculosis," Dr Arun Chowdary Kotaru,  Consultant, Respiratory/ Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine at Artemis Hospitals Gurgaon, tells ABP Live.

Dr Kotaru also says that tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis diseases are different from each other. “According to WHO data, about one quarter of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis bacteria. Only a small proportion of those infected will become sick with tuberculosis,” adds Dr Kotaru.

“Only 10 per cent of the people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis will develop tuberculosis in their lifetime,” Dr. Babina NM, Chief Medical officer, Jindal Naturecure Institute, Bangalore, tells ABP Live.

Dr Kotaru also said that all forms of tuberculosis are not contagious, and that a healthcare professional must make a complete effort to diagnose tuberculosis before putting the person on treatment. If patients who are not infected with the disease are prescribed medications to relieve them of the symptoms, they may develop drug resistance against tuberculosis in case the bacterium truly infects them.

“The Government of India is providing Rs. 500 per month to all registered and notified tuberculosis patients through Direct Benefit Transfer. This support is provided for the treatment duration even if the treatment extends to two years and to avail this, it is mandatory to provide bank account details and Aadhaar card details. This financial support is basically provided to ensure a nutritious diet for the tuberculosis patients,” says Dr Kotaru.

The corporate sector has also ramped up efforts to help tuberculosis patients.

The corporate sector is actively involved in finding cases, doing camps and providing free drugs, daily food requirements and counselling to help tuberculosis patients,” says Dr Kotaru.

Many people have the misconception that tuberculosis is incurable. However, this is false. While tuberculosis is curable, the duration of treatment depends on pre-existing comorbidities with the person. 

“The treatment for tuberculosis lasts for six to nine months. If you have diabetes or another immunocompromised condition, we give medicines for nine months. There are multiple treatments for tuberculosis, and multiple drugs can be given together,” Dr Arjun Khanna, Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, tells ABP Live.

Tuberculosis medicines can cause side effects, but these can be taken care of. Since there is a widespread misuse of tuberculosis medicines, the number of cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in India has increased, especially in the Delhi-NCR region.

“If you are on tuberculosis medications and develop symptoms or side effects like nausea and vomiting, please get in touch with your doctor immediately. Because of the widespread misuse of tuberculosis medications, there have been numerous cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in India, particularly in the Delhi-NCR region,” Dr Khanna explains.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis strains can make treatment more difficult, according to Dr NM.

Dr Khanna adds that one should start tuberculosis medication only when the diagnosis is confirmed. One should never start tuberculosis medication based on an X-ray or a CT scan. “Sputum and bronchoscopy should be done to finalise the diagnosis of TB,” says Dr Khanna.

While several antibiotics are available to treat tuberculosis, there are certain natural techniques to prevent the disease. Tuberculosis can be prevented with a naturopathy diet, according to Dr NM. 

“Naturopathy believes that a person is born healthy and strong and that they can stay that way by living in accordance with the laws of nature. A proper diet, fresh air, exercise, sunshine, meditation, and the right mental attitude, all play their part in keeping the body and mind fit. Food items such as black pepper, mint, garlic, and a diet full of green leafy vegetables are very useful in treating tuberculosis,” says Dr NM.

Tuberculosis can lead to serious complications if left untreated, and can even be fatal. The complications include  lung damage and spinal cord damage, according to Dr NM.