TUBERCULOSIS:

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TB is spread through the air. The disease is most common in elderly people. TB can take years to become active.

Cause: The most common method by which TB is transmitted is through coughing or sneezing. When infectious people cough, sneeze, talk or spit, they propel TB germs, known as bacilli into the air. A person needs only to inhale a small number of these to be infected.

Symptoms: A person with TB may feel slightly sick or develop a mild cough. The person may also cough up small amounts of greenish or yellow sputum and it can sometimes contain blood. Other symptoms include a low-grade fever, a loss of interest in food, mild chest pain, difficulty in breathing, and night sweats. More serious symptoms can also develop, including severe weight loss.

New cases: 8.9 million in 2004

Deaths: 1.7 million deaths in 2004

Sources

World Health Organization on Tuberculosis

General FAQs on Tuberculosis

Official website for Center for Disease Control and Prevention

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