In this episode of A Podful of Pediatrics, we break down tuberculosis (TB) in clear, plain language. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads through the air when a person with active lung TB coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can affect the lungs and other parts of the body, and it remains a global health concern today. TB can live in the body without causing symptoms (latent TB), but without treatment it can become active and serious later in life. Early testing and treatment are key to preventing illness and stopping spread.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/causes/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/tb/hcp/education/latent-tb-infection-guide-primary-care-providers.html https://www.cdc.gov/tb/hcp/education/latent-tb-infection-recommendations-summary.html https://www.cdc.gov/tb/treatment/active-tuberculosis-disease.html https://globaltb.njms.rutgers.edu/abouttb/historyoftb.php https://historyofvaccines.org/diseases/tuberculosis/ https://yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com/p/tb-outbreak-in-a-school-measles-in?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email https://www.cdc.gov/tb/hcp/vaccines/index.html https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/bcg-vaccine-history-modern-uses-tuberculosis/ https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/tuberculosis-vaccine-bcg-developed https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-policy-and-standards/standards-and-specifications/norms-and-standards/vaccines-quality/bcg