Question

Give the symptoms, causative agent, and mode of transmission of Tuberculosis.

Answer 1

Hint: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that generally affects the lungs, but may also affect other parts of the body. It is caused by specific microorganisms and can be transferred through different mechanisms.

Complete answer:
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs but it can also affect other body parts. In most cases, it shows no symptoms and it is known as latent tuberculosis. About 10 percent of these latent cases progress to active disease, which when untreated can be fatal. However, the classic symptoms of an active Tuberculosis infection are a chronic cough with blood and sputum, fever, night sweats, and extreme weight loss. There may be other symptoms that are present as different organs and systems are affected.
The tuberculosis infection is chiefly spread due to droplet infection. Tuberculosis is spread from one person to another person. When a person with an active TB infection in the lungs, coughs, spits, sneezes, or sometimes even speak droplets are released into the atmosphere which harbors the pathogens and thus spreads to the other people. People with a latent form of tuberculosis do not spread the disease.
The diagnosis of active tuberculosis is based on chest X- rays as well as microscopic examination and culturing of body fluids. This diagnosis of the latent form of tuberculosis relies entirely on the tuberculin skin test or blood tests.

Note:
- Tuberculosis can be prevented primarily by vaccination and the appropriate treatment of the active cases and precautions by the patients. - The vaccine that is used for Tuberculosis is the BCG vaccine which stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. - Treatment of tuberculosis in India is carried out in accordance with the RNTCP protocols.