Question

Which of the following bacteria causes tuberculosis?
A. Shigella
B. Salmonella
C. Mycobacterium
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Tuberculosis also known as TB is caused by bacteria and is a highly contagious disease. It primarily affects the lungs, but if it is left untreated, it may spread to other parts of the body.

Complete Answer:
Let us first know a little bit more about the tuberculosis, before we find the correct answer. Tuberculosis affects the lungs, thereby causing issues in respiration. There are two types of tuberculosis,
1. Pulmonary tuberculosis
2. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

- Shigella causes an infectious disease known as shigellosis, and its symptoms include stomach pain, ferve and diarrhea. It can be caused by coming in contact with food or stool which is infected with the bacteria.
- Salmonella causes salmonellosis and the symptoms include loss of smell, taste or vision, diarrhea, fever, etc. The bacteria lives in the intestinal tracts of birds and animals and is transmitted to humans by consumption of food which is contaminated with animal feces.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis cause tuberculosis, and the various symptoms are,
Chills and fever, chest pain, weakness/ fatigue, bad cough over three weeks, loss of appetite.
The diagnosis of tuberculosis can be done by blood tests, skin test, X- rays, etc.

Thus, the correct option is C) Mycobacterium.

Note: The other causes of TB are,
- Other than Mycobacterium, other TB- causing bacteria are - Mycobacterium microti, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium canettii, and Mycobacterium africanum.
- TB is an airborne disease therefore, it can be acquired from close contact with an infected person.
- Metabolic diseases like Diabetes can increase the risk of contracting tuberculosis.
- People with weak immune systems are at a higher risk.