Tuberculosis, once known as the "White Plague," is an ancient disease that dates back as far as 70,000 years ago. World TB Day is celebrated annually on 24 March to raise awareness of TB. What kind of disease is it? How can it be prevented?
Liu Xiaoqing, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that tuberculosis is a common chronic respiratory infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which can affect almost all organs and have a variety of manifestations. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has unique pathogenic characteristics such as strong infectivity, long-term latentness, drug resistance, pathogenic complexity, and difficulty in obtaining pathogens.
"The highest incidence of TB is pulmonary tuberculosis that is transmitted through the respiratory tract. In addition to tuberculosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis is also very common, and any tissues and organs in the human body except hair, teeth and nails may be invaded by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Liu Xiaoqing said that after mycobacterium tuberculosis infects the human body, most people can rely on their own immunity to remove tuberculosis bacteria, or achieve "temporary reconciliation" with tuberculosis bacteria, that is, latent tuberculosis infection.
According to reports, about 25% of the global population has latent TB infection, and they have a lifetime risk of developing active TB, most (about 70%) occurring within the first two years after latent TB infection.
"The source of tuberculosis infection is patients with active tuberculosis who are currently ill, of which pathogen-positive tuberculosis patients are the main source of infection." Yang Zhengrong, a doctor of infectious internal medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that when tuberculosis patients cough, sneeze and speak loudly, a large number of droplet particles containing tuberculosis bacteria can be produced, which are transmitted through air and dust, which can be suspended in the air for a long time, and can be up to 4 to 5 hours in the room where the air does not circulate, and close contacts of tuberculosis patients can be infected by inhaling these particles. However, latent infections of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and cured tuberculosis patients are not contagious.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis? Experts said that cough, sputum cough for more than 2 weeks, chest tightness, chest pain, night sweats, weight loss, etc. are common symptoms of suspected tuberculosis. If there are new suspected symptoms of the above recently, you should go to a regular hospital in time and improve chest CT, tuberculin skin test, γ interferon release test, sputum and other examinations.
"Even if the diagnosis is confirmed, there is no need to worry too much, tuberculosis generally has a good prognosis, some tuberculosis patients can heal themselves through their own resistance, and the vast majority of patients can be cured after formal treatment as long as they follow the doctor's instructions." Liu Xiaoqing said that tuberculosis is preventable and treatable. However, do not conceal the condition or blindly seek medical treatment, which will delay treatment and infect others.
How can the average person prevent TB? Yang Zhengrong said that usually can enhance their own immunity through outdoor exercise, maintain a healthy diet and regular work and rest, if you need to visit tuberculosis patients, you should wear N95 masks, and once there are suspected tuberculosis symptoms, you should seek medical treatment in time.
Reporters: Mu Tiecheng, Tian Xiaohang