A SEMINAR PRESENTATION

ON

TUBERCULOSIS

BY

GABRIEL, PEACE UFUOMA

17/21LN036 1
 Definition of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but
can also target other parts of the body, such as the kidneys,
spine, and brain. TB spreads through the air when an infected
person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing bacteria-containing
droplets into the air that others may inhale. TB can be latent,
where the bacteria are present but inactive, or active, where
symptoms are present and the person can spread the disease.
Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics taken
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over several months. (Bolts & Vann, 2008).

Historical Context
Ancient Times
Sanatoriums and Public Health Measures
Antibiotic Era
Resurgence

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Tuberculosis Basics
 Causative Agent: The causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterium called
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was first identified by the German physician
Robert Koch in 1882. M. tuberculosis is a rod-shaped, acid-fast bacterium that
primarily infects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the
kidneys, spine, and brain.
 Transmission Routes: Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily transmitted through the air
when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing infectious
aerosol droplets containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause
TB. The most common transmission routes for TB include:

Airborne Transmission

Close Contact

Contaminated Surfaces

Mother to Child Transmission

Foodborne Transmission

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Global Impact

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to have a significant global impact, affecting

millions of people each year. Here are some key points highlighting its
global impact:
 Prevalence
 Geographic Distribution
 Drug Resistance
 Impact on Health Systems
 Intersection with Other Diseases

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TB Symptoms
Primary Symptoms
MTuberculosis (TB) can affect various parts of the body, but the
primary symptoms typically involve the lungs. Here are the main
symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB affecting the lungs):
Persistent Cough

Chest Pain

Coughing up Blood

Fatigue

Weight Loss

Fever

Night Sweats
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Loss of Appetite (Murray & Lopez, 2008).
Figure 1: Sites of dissemination of
Tuberculosis
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 Latent TB and Active TB
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis disease are two different stages of infection
caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI):
In LTBI, a person has been infected with the TB bacteria, but the bacteria are in a dormant or inactive
state.
People with LTBI do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms of TB.

LTBI is not contagious, meaning it cannot be spread to others.

However, if left untreated, LTBI can progress to active TB disease in some cases.
Active Tuberculosis Disease:
ActiveTB disease occurs when the TB bacteria become active and multiply in the body, causing
symptoms and illness.
Common symptoms of active TB disease include persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood,
fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.
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ActiveTB disease can affect various parts of the body, but it most commonly affects the lungs
(pulmonary TB).
Diagnostic Methods
Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)
Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs)
Chest X-ray
Molecular Tests (e.g. GeneXpert)
Acid fast test

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GLOBAL TB BURDEN
Statistics on TB incidence and mortality: In 2020, an estimated 10
million people worldwide developed TB disease. The incidence rate was
approximately 125 cases per 100,000 population globally. TB incidence
varies by region, with the highest burden found in low- and middle-income
countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Western Pacific region.
HIGH BURDEN COUNTRIES

High burden countries for tuberculosis (TB) are those with a

disproportionately high number of TB cases and deaths relative to their
population size. These countries face significant challenges in TB
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment due to various factors, including
socioeconomic conditions, healthcare infrastructure, and epidemiological
characteristics. Some of the high burden countries for TB include:
India, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines.
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Socioeconomic impact
Socioeconomic impact affect individuals, families, communities, and
entire societies in various ways which include:
Loss of Productivity

Poverty and Inequality

Catastrophic Costs

Education Disruption

Stigmatization and Discrimination

Health System Burden

 Economic Growth Impact

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Challenges in TB Control
Controlling TB presents several challenges such as
Diagnostic Limitations, Global funding gaps, incompetent
treatment and loss to follow-up, Poverty and social
Determinants, Co infection with HIV, particularly in high
burden countries and regions. Some of the key challenges
include:
Drug Resistance
Weak Health Systems
Stigma and Discrimination

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Prevention in TB
TB prevention strategies aim to reduce the incidence and
transmission of tuberculosis (TB) by addressing various
risk factors and implementing interventions at individual,
community, and population levels. Some TB prevention
measures include:
 Vaccination
 Infection Control Measures
 Screening and Treatment of Active TB

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TB and HIV
Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are two infectious diseases that
frequently coexist and interact synergistically, presenting complex
challenges for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
The co-infection rates

Challenges in management

 Late Diagnosis
 Adherence to Treatment
 Co-morbidities
 Health System Weaknesses
 Drug Interactions and Side Effects
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Future Directions
Research and Development

These will play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of TB,

improving diagnostic tools, developing new treatments, and
ultimately working towards TB elimination. Important areas of R&D
include;
New Diagnostic

Vaccines

New drug developed

Shorter Treatment regimens

Drug resistance and surveillance

Implementation science etc.

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STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED TB CONTROL

These include:
Early detention and Diagnosis
Universal access to treatment
Preventive therapy
Management of drugs-resistant TB
Health service strengthening
Community empowerment and engagement etc.

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CONCLUSION
Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the
body. TB remains a major global health threat, particularly in low- and middle-
income countries, with a disproportionate burden in sub-Saharan Africa and
Southeast Asia.
Itis spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
TB manifests in two main forms: latent TB infection (LTBI) and active TB disease.
Diagnosis of TB involves a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging studies
microbiological tests, culture, and tuberculin skin testing or interferon-gamma
release assays for LTBI.
Treatment of TB involves multi-drug therapy with antibiotics, typically
consisting of a combination of first-line drugs and extensively drug-resistant,
requires more prolonged and complex treatment regimens with second-line
drugs. 17
References
Murray, T.J & Lopez Y.B. (2008). WHO Report global tuberculosis
control: Survelliance, planning, financing. Geneva: WHO. pp20-28.
Ludd, J.J, Pote, D.U. and Stop, T.B (2007). A global appraisal.
Geneva: WHO. WHO Bulletin.
Park K. (2005). Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine 18th
ed. India M/S Banarsidas Bhanot. pp33, 83.
Bolts, S.U & Vann, B.U. (2008). Preventive and treatment of
tuberculosis among patients with immunodeficiency virus:
Principles of therapy and rived recommendations. NY. MMWR. pp
37-41, 47.
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 THANKS
FOR
LISTENING
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