FOR JUSTICE
TUBERCULOSIS kills two million people each
year. The global epidemic is growing and becoming more dangerous. The
breakdown in health services, the spread of HIV/Aids and the emergence
of multi-drug resistant TB are contributing to the worsening impact of
this disease. "Between 2000 and 2020, nearly one billion people will
be newly-infected, 200 million people will get sick, and 35 million will
die from TB - if control is not further strengthened." (World Health
Organisation).
What is TB?
Like a cold or flu, tuberculosis is an infectious disease that spreads
through the air. Someone sick with pulmonary (lung) TB is infectious to
others; each cough spreads TB germs. You only need to inhale a few to
become infected. A person infected with
page 4 of 6
contents
of issue 77
back
issues
the
gazette
recipes
small
ads
contacting
us
weblinks
Photo:
the wellcome trust
Developing TB vaccine at Oxford
TB doesn't necessarily get sick. The immune system usually "walls
off" the TB cells and they lie dormant. But if the immune system
is weakened, the chances of getting sick with TB increase. TB develops
slowly, causing fever, night sweats, coughing, spitting up blood, and
weight loss.
And Drug-Resistant TB?
This arises when patients don't take all their drugs regularly for the
required period because they start feeling better. Multi-drug resistant
TB (MDRTB) is TB resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin - the
two most powerful anti-TB drugs. MDRTB is treatable with up to two years
of extensive chemotherapy.
