The History of Tuberculosis

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INTRODUCTION
Tuberculosis also known as ‘Tuber Bacillus’ is a deadly, infectious disease which primarily impacts on the lungs which is called pulmonary TB. TB can also impact on the other parts of the body including the Brain, kidneys and bones which is called non – pulmonary TB. The disease of TB is caused in humans mainly from a bacterium called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was first described by Robert Koch as unusual with waxy coating on its cell surface. TB can also affect the cattle from a bacterium called Mycobacterium Bovis. Evidences show us that Tuberculosis has been in our society for at least 15,000 years now. We get to know this by the traces of tuberculosis in mummies. In 460 BC this disease was named consumption because of the way a person losses weight who is suffering from Tuberculosis. TB mainly spreads through the air from one person to another through tiny droplets of infected sputum. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a TB patient speaks coughs or sneezes. There are many different circumstances in which a normal person may get TB. Usually people get TB when they live with someone who is TB patient, they are homeless, they live in a polluted environment or people suffer from malnutrition.

MAIN BODY
TWO STAGES OF TB
Tuberculosis can impact on any part of the body. It depends on what stage is TB up to. There are two stages of TB
1. Pulmonary TB
This type of TB only affects the lungs. Pulmonary TB can spread really quickly to other people. In pulmonary TB when TB is active. The bacteria form cavities (holes) in the lungs, which allow the oxygen and carbon dioxide to enter. This provides bacterium an excellent way to produce, hence the TB spreads rapidly. Cavity causes destructio...

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