resurgence of Tuberculosis: Key Symptoms and Treatment Options

Tuberculosis (TB) has historically been one of the deadliest infectious diseases, claiming millions of lives worldwide. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the leading cause of death in the United States, with one in seven individuals who had ever lived succumbing to the disease. Primarily attacking the lungs, TB can also impact other parts of the body, spreading through airborne particles expelled when a person with active TB coughs, speaks, or sings.

During the early 20th century, sanatoriums emphasizing fresh air and isolation helped reduce TB's impact, and the advent of antibiotics in the 1950s led to effective cures that nearly eradicated the disease domestically. However, despite low incidence rates, TB hasn't been fully eliminated. In recent years, cases in the U.S. have been rising, with 2024 reporting over 10,300 cases, marking the highest number since 2011 and an 8% increase over 2023. Globally, TB remains a significant health threat, causing over 1.25 million deaths annually and being the leading infectious cause of death worldwide, surpassing COVID-19.

Transmission occurs mainly through inhalation of droplets from an infected individual, particularly indoors. The bacteria can remain airborne for hours, increasing infection risk in shared spaces like homes, prisons, homeless shelters, and healthcare settings. Not everyone exposed develops active disease; many carry latent TB, where the bacteria remain inactive in the body without symptoms. Active TB disease manifests with symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting over three weeks, chest pain, blood or mucus in cough, fatigue, weight loss, fever, chills, and night sweats.

Diagnosis involves a detailed medical history, physical examination, and testing—either skin or blood tests—to detect TB infection. Confirmatory tests like chest X-rays and sputum analysis are used for active disease. It's essential to disclose prior BCG vaccination, as it can affect test results.

Treatment of TB is crucial and often lengthy, involving multiple medications over several months. Inactive TB typically requires a 3-9 month course of drugs like Isoniazid or Rifampin, while active TB treatment can extend from 4 to 9 months and may include drugs such as Ethambutol and Pyrazinamide. Drug-resistant TB cases demand specialized treatment protocols managed by experienced healthcare professionals.

Preventing TB transmission involves adhering to medication regimens, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding work or school during infectious periods, improving ventilation, and using protective masks if necessary. Awareness of risk factors, including travel to high-incidence regions, living in crowded settings, or having compromised immunity, is vital for early detection and prevention.

Proactive measures and timely medical intervention are key to controlling TB’s spread and reducing its global burden. Staying informed about symptoms, getting tested if exposed, and completing prescribed treatments help safeguard individual and public health.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-tuberculosis-symptoms-treatment.html