TUBERCULOSIS

• It is a specific infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 
• It primarly affects lungs and causes pulmonary tuberculosis. 
• It also affect intestine,meninges,bones, joints, lymph glands etc. 
• The disese also affect cattle –bovine tuberculosis. 

Infection: 

• There are 2 sources of infection – human & bovine. 
• The most common source of infection is the human case whose sputum is positive for tubercle bacilli and who has either received no treatment. Such human can discharge the bacilli in their sputum for many years. 
• The bovine source of infection is usually infected milk. 

Host Factors: 

• Tuberculosis affect all ages More prevalent in males than females.
• It is not a hereditary disese.
• It is a social dieasae .the social factors include poor quality of life. Poor housing , overcrowding,under nutrition , lack of education,lack of awareness. 

Mode of Transmission: 

• It is transmitted mainly by droplet infection and droplet nuclei generated by sputum- positive patents with pulmonary tuberculosis.Coughing generate largest number of droplets of all sizes. The frequency and vigour ofcough and the ventillation of the environment influences the transmission of infection. 

Control of diseases:

• Tuberculosis control means reduction in the prevalance and incidence of diseases in the community.
• The control measures consist of curative component and a preventive component. 
• The first step in a tuberculosis control programme is early detection of sputum positive case