Introduction
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is highly contagious and has become one of the world’s leading causes of death. The disease primarily targets the lungs yet has the potential to impact other areas of the body, such as the spine, kidneys, and brain. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that one-third of the world’s population is exposed to the bacteria responsible for causing tuberculosis. Yet, only a small proportion of these individuals will develop active TB disease (World Health Organization, 2021).
If left untreated, active tuberculosis can be fatal, and its symptoms include night sweats, fever, chest pain, and persistent cough. However, effective treatment for most TB cases has recently been developed. This discussion will examine how understanding the history of TB and the physiology of the lungs and utilizing lung function tests can help understand how TB affects the body. It will also investigate the disease’s diagnosis, causes, signs, and symptoms.
The lungs are one of the most critical organs greatly affected by TB. Breathing involves inhaling air through the nose or mouth, down the windpipe, into the main bronchi (left and right), and eventually to the alveoli. During this process, oxygen is traded for carbon dioxide, a physiological process normal to mammalian bodies. Conversely, exhaling occurs when the muscles at the base of the diaphragm contract, permitting air to flow backward and up through the trachea and out of the mouth or nose (Stanojevic et al., 2021).
Lung function tests determine various elements associated with lung performance, such as the amount of air taken in during inhalation and the amount taken out during exhalation (Kouri et al., 2020). This type of test aids in diagnosing and tracking the progression of respiratory illnesses. The commonly used tests include single-breath nitrogen washout, desaturation testing, flow-volume loops, plethysmography, and spirometry (Stanojevic et al., 2021). Each test mentioned measures different lung capacity features and offers insight into one’s respiratory health. When the lungs become infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, it can lead to tuberculosis, which can also impact other body parts.
History
Tuberculosis, the oldest known infectious disease, has existed on Earth since prehistoric times. TB can be traced back to evidence of skeletal remains in European archaeological sites that date as far back as 4000 BC. In ancient texts, such as those written by Homer and Hippocrates, descriptions of TB can be found in their writings about a “wasting” illness that afflicted individuals (Roberts & Buikstra, 2020).
The microbial agent of tuberculosis was first discovered in 1882 by German physician Robert Koch. He identified the causative microorganisms as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), which could remain viable off-host for extended periods (Roberts & Buikstra, 2020). Until the early twentieth century, TB was treated mainly with fresh air, sunlight, and a good diet.
With the advent of antibiotics, TB was no longer seen as an incurable disease. The first antibiotics were developed in 1945, and the initial drug used to treat TB was streptomycin, which wasdiscovered in 1943 by Selman Waksman (Roberts & Buikstra, 2020). In 1952, isoniazid was introduced to treat active tuberculosis, and its combination with streptomycin became known as the “gold standard” therapy (Roberts & Buikstra, 2020). In 1969, rifampicin joined this combination therapy and became known as “short-course chemotherapy” or SCCT (Roberts & Buikstra, 2020). In the late 1980s and early 1990s, new drugs that could treat TB were developed, including ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and amikacin.
The introduction of combination therapy made it possible to cure tuberculosis in as little as six months (Roberts & Buikstra, 2020). With effective treatment options available, the number of tuberculosis cases worldwide has decreased significantly. However, TB is still a significant public health problem in many parts of the world today.
Body Systems and Specific Parts Affected by Tuberculosis
The human body comprises different parts working together, each with its own function. TB usually affects the breathing system and makes breathing hard, leading to coughing, chest pains, and other breathing complications. Infections in the bones and lymph nodes, leading to pain or swelling, can also result from TB. In severe cases, TB can spread to other body parts, such as the kidneys and brain, when left untreated (Natarajan et al., 2020).
People with TB could experience other problems, like feeling weak from not having enough red blood cells or having weak bones from osteoporosis (Natarajan et al., 2020). According to Wong (2020), TB can also make one feel tired, lose weight, and have a high temperature. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical treatment if any of these symptoms present themselves. Through early diagnosis and proper treatment plans, people with TB can control the spread of this infectious disease and reduce its impact on their bodies.
Causes
Tuberculosis is a common issue in the contemporary world caused by various factors. The leading causes of TB include lack of access to quality healthcare services, poverty, HIV infection, substance abuse, inadequate housing and sanitation, poor nutrition, and overcrowding (Natarajan et al., 2020). Age-related comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus increase TB risk (Wong, 2020).
Furthermore, drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have created a challenge in treatment efficacy (Chakaya et al., 2021). Such factors have resulted in high prevalence rates globally. For example, it is estimated that in 2019, there were 10 million new cases and 0.5 million deaths from TB (Chakaya et al., 2021). Therefore, it is essential to implement strategies that reduce the transmission of TB by focusing on its causes.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Tuberculosis is a contagious, airborne bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It can also spread to other organs in the body and cause severe illness. Signs and symptoms of TB range from coughing or difficulty breathing for more than two weeks to chest pain, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite or weight loss, fatigue, chills, and bloody sputum. Diagnosis of tuberculosis requires laboratory tests, such as chest X-rays to detect lesions in the lungs and testing of sputum samples for TB bacteria (Goletti et al., 2022). An interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) may sometimes be used to identify exposure or active infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Goletti et al., 2022).
Asymptomatic TB may require further investigation and evaluation, including serial chest X-rays or other tests such as CT scans, sputum cultures, blood tests, and PCR testing (Wong, 2021). Additionally, contact tracing and screening of close contacts are essential in the early identification of active cases (Wong, 2021). Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for the successful management of TB.
Conclusion
TB has been a leading cause of death worldwide for many years. The illness is caused by airborne bacteria that enter the body simply by breathing. The disease mainly affects the respiratory system, making it hard for a person to breathe, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the spine, and the kidneys.
Not everyone infected with the bacteria that causes tuberculosis contracts the illness. Nonetheless, effective medication has been established over the years to aid in combating the infection. Thus, seeking medical attention through checkups is crucial to ensure that one does not contract the disease.
References
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