Tuberculosis is not a hereditary or genetic disease. It is caused by the bacterium *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* and spreads from person to person through the air. Characteristic symptoms include a cough lasting over two to three weeks, low-grade fever in the afternoon, night sweats, weight loss, and possibly coughing up blood.
A common mistake patients make is stopping medication when tuberculosis symptoms subside. However, discontinuing treatment prematurely can lead to drug-resistant tuberculosis, a dangerous condition. Patients must adhere to the doctor's recommended treatment.
Tuberculosis does not spread through handshakes, sharing food or drinks, using the same clothes, or sharing restrooms. The disease primarily spreads through the air when individuals with active pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis cough, talk, or sneeze, releasing bacteria into the air. Nearby individuals who inhale these airborne bacteria are at risk of infection.
Not everyone infected with *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* will develop active tuberculosis. Individuals with latent tuberculosis, where the bacteria are dormant, show no symptoms, and usually have no abnormalities on chest X-rays, do not transmit the disease to others. Only those with active tuberculosis, especially untreated pulmonary tuberculosis, can spread the infection.
Tuberculosis can affect more than just the lungs; it can also cause extrapulmonary tuberculosis, impacting the spine, kidneys, lymph nodes, brain, and other organs. If tuberculosis affects the genitourinary tract, particularly the fallopian tubes, it can lead to scarring and blocked fallopian tubes.
Not everyone infected with *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* will develop active pulmonary tuberculosis. In healthy individuals, the immune system can prevent the bacteria from multiplying in the body, a condition known as latent tuberculosis.
To prevent the disease, individuals should get vaccinated as recommended, wear masks when in contact with suspected cases, maintain personal hygiene, and boost immunity through a balanced diet. Early screening for close contacts of tuberculosis patients also helps prevent spread.
Le Nguyen (According to Times of India)
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