World Tuberculosis Day: What You Should Know About The Disease

Every year, March 24 is observed as World TB Day to emphasize the urgency of ending tuberculosis and raise awareness about it as the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The day marks the discovery of TB by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882.

TB continues to devastate millions globally, causing severe health, social, and economic consequences.

According to WHO, This year’s theme is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” It provides an opportunity to reflect on ongoing efforts and encourage stronger commitments at local, national, and international levels to end TB, including tackling the growing threat of drug-resistant TB.

Bethrand Odume, the executive director and Chair of the 2024 National TB Conference, explained that this year’s theme underscores the urgent need to unite and intensify the fight against TB, aiming for commitments to end TB by 2030.

“The theme also centres on the increased engagement of those affected by TB, communities, and civil society who are leading the movement toward ending this disease, and the progress made in research and development, many new TB diagnosis tools, shorter, more efficient treatment and preventive regimens, as well as several vaccines in phase 3 clinical trials,” he added.

“The time to accelerate all efforts towards ending TB is now more than ever before. We all need to sustain the progress we have made in recent years in finding the missing TB cases, by scaling up key proven strategies while sustaining advocacy efforts to improve funding,” he further said.

What Is Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a contagious airborne disease primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most commonly affecting the lungs. TB spreads through the air when individuals with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit. A person only needs to inhale a few germs to become infected.

Symptoms Of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) can have various symptoms depending on which part of the body is affected. The most common symptoms of active TB, especially pulmonary (lung) TB, include:

• Coughing that lasts more than 3 weeks
• Coughing up blood or sputum (mucus from deep inside the lungs)
• Chest pain or pain with breathing or coughing
• Fatigue or feeling weak
• Fever and chills
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite

If TB affects other parts of the body (like the kidneys, spine, or brain), symptoms can vary based on the organs involved.

• TB disease of the lymph nodes may cause a firm red or purple swelling under the skin.
• TB disease of the kidney may cause blood in the urine.
• TB meningitis (TB disease of the brain) may cause headache or confusion.
• TB disease of the spine may cause back pain.
• TB disease of the larynx may cause hoarseness.

Is Tuberculosis Contagious?

TB is a contagious airborne disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosisbacteria. It primarily affects the lungs, but it can spread to other parts of the body also. Transmission occurs when an infected person: Coughs, sneezes or spits.
Only a few inhaled TB bacteria are enough to cause an infection.

If you suspect you have TB or have been in close contact with someone who has it, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for testing and proper diagnosis.

Preventive Measures

Improve ventilation in indoor spaces

TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Poorly ventilated spaces increase the risk of infection. Ensuring good airflow by keeping windows open, using exhaust fans, and avoiding enclosed, crowded areas can significantly reduce exposure to TB bacteria.

Maintain strong immunity with a healthy diet

A nutrient-rich diet helps the immune system fight infections, including TB. Consume foods rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits), vitamin D (sunlight, fish, eggs), zinc (nuts, seeds), and protein (lean meats, legumes) to keep your immune defences strong. People with weak immunity, such as those with diabetes or malnutrition, are at a higher risk of TB.

Practice good respiratory hygiene

Cover your mouth and nose with a mask, tissue, or elbow when coughing or sneezing. This prevents the spread of TB bacteria. If you interact with TB patients or work in healthcare settings, using N95 masks can provide additional protection against airborne transmission.

Avoid close contact with TB-infected individuals

TB is highly contagious, especially in enclosed settings. If you live with or work around someone with active TB, ensure they receive proper treatment and follow medical guidelines. Regular health check-ups and screenings help detect TB early, preventing its spread to others.

Ensure early detection and treatment

TB symptoms include persistent cough (lasting over 3 weeks), weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, and fever. If you experience these, seek immediate medical attention. Latent TB (dormant infection) can become active if left untreated, so early diagnosis and full completion of prescribed antibiotics are crucial to stop TB from spreading.

Strengthen lung health with regular exercise

Physical activity improves lung function and overall immunity. Exercises like brisk walking, yoga, breathing exercises, and swimming help keep the lungs strong and reduce the risk of respiratory infections, including TB. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, as they weaken lung defences.

Reduce exposure to polluted or crowded areas

People in overcrowded, poorly ventilated settings such as slums, prisons, and refugee camps are at higher risk of TB transmission. If unavoidable, wearing protective masks, maintaining distance, and ensuring sanitation can help lower the risk.
By following these preventive measures, you can lower the risk of TB infection and contribute to the global fight against tuberculosis.

Impact Of Health Organizations To Cure Tuberculosis

The Tuberculosis Leprosy Control Program (TLCP) in Nigeria has played a crucial role in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) by implementing strategies aimed at improving early detection, treatment, and overall public awareness.

At least one person in Nigeria dies from Tuberculosis (TB) every five minutes, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), disclosed on Tuesday,  noting that Nigeria alone accounts for 23 percent of the death burden in Africa.
Laraban Shehu, National Coordinator of NTBLCP who disclosed this at the 2024 Pre-World TB Day Press Conference in Abuja, with the theme “Yes! We can end TB”, decried that Tuberculosis have killed more Nigerians than COVID-19 even though it is preventable and has a cure.

Shehu, said an estimated  97,900 people died of Tuberculosis in Nigeria in 2022; while 424,000 died in the entire Africa. In addition, Nigeria recorded a total 479, 000 TB cases in the same year and 2.48 million cases were recorded in Africa.

The coordinator expressed concerns that this burden of TB is borne significantly by Nigerians, explaining that 71% of people with TB face catastrophic costs as they spend over 20% of their income on treating Tuberculosis.
Shehu, while calling for more action to eradicate TB, highlighted some gaps that need to be addressed including the huge TB funding gap and high level of donor dependency .

While noting that 70% percent of the TB budget is not funded, he expressed concerns that a significant portion of the remaining 30% is funded by donors.
The coordinator also noted that thousands of cases go undetected every year. Among children, he said only an estimated 23% of childhood TB cases are detected and the remaining 77% go undetected, and consequently without treatment, which often results in death.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has played a significant role in helping curb tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria. Alongside the Nigerian government, the WHO has supported TB control programs through funding, technical assistance, and capacity-building efforts aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of TB.

Additionally, the Global Fund and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have also contributed significantly to TB control in Nigeria by providing funding, resources, and expertise in managing TB outbreaks, improving healthcare infrastructure, and strengthening health systems.

Together, these organizations have worked toward increasing awareness, promoting early detection, and ensuring access to treatment, which has led to some progress in addressing TB in Nigeria.