Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that most commonly affects the lungs but can also affect other organs such as the kidneys, spine, brain, lymph nodes, intestines, skin, and reproductive organs.

Main causes of tuberculosis:

The disease is caused by bacteria from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The primary mode of transmission is airborne: an infected person releases bacteria into the air when coughing, sneezing, talking, or singing, and a healthy person can become infected by inhaling these particles.

FACTS:

1.Tuberculosis originated almost 70,000 years ago. Swiss scientists proved that tuberculosis appeared on the African continent about 70,000 years ago. The active migration of people contributed to the spread of the disease and the emergence of mutated strains.

2.Almost 10 million people worldwide are infected with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis kills more people annually than any other infection — over 1.5 million people.

3.The tuberculosis vaccine is the most widely used vaccine in the world. Vaccination helps reduce infection rates and disease incidence among children and prevents the development of acute and deadly forms of tuberculosis. It is worth noting that among unvaccinated children (not given the BCG vaccine during the neonatal period), the incidence of early childhood tuberculosis is 15 times higher than in vaccinated children.

4.A bacteriologist from Vinnytsia region created an antibiotic effective against tuberculosis:

In 1944, American bacteriologist, founder of soil microbiology, Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology and Medicine Selman Abraham Waksman (born Solomon Yakovych Vaksman in Nova Pryluka, Lypovetskyi district, Vinnytsia region, Ukraine, studied in Odesa) discovered the antibiotic streptomycin, which proved effective against tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis detection and diagnosis are free of charge.

Main symptoms of tuberculosis:

•A cough lasting more than 2 weeks.

•Fever lasting more than 7 days.

•Shortness of breath.

•Chest pain.

•Poor appetite and unexplained weight loss.

•Persistent weakness.

•Increased sweating, especially at night.

•Coughing up blood.

Risk groups for tuberculosis infection:

•Elderly people due to weakened immune systems.

•Individuals in constant contact with tuberculosis patients.

•People who use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

•Individuals with weakened immune systems due to malnutrition, poor living conditions, or chronic illnesses.

•Children, as their immune systems are not yet fully developed.

Infection risks:

The highest risk of infection is among people who are in contact with a person suffering from contagious tuberculosis.

Once treatment begins, after 1-2 weeks of taking anti-tuberculosis medication, the sick person is no longer a source of infection for others.

Prevention:

•Vaccination.

•Adherence to hygiene rules.

•A healthy lifestyle, including balanced nutrition and physical activity.

•Regular medical check-ups, especially for those in risk groups.

Early detection and timely treatment of tuberculosis are key to preventing complications and the spread of the disease.

BCG vaccination is available and free of charge.

Ukraine has sufficient BCG vaccines. Newborns are vaccinated on the 3rd-5th day after birth. All maternity hospitals are provided with BCG vaccines.

BCG vaccination does not guarantee that a child will never get sick, but it significantly reduces the risk of dying from severe forms of tuberculosis, such as tuberculous meningitis, tuberculous meningoencephalitis, or disseminated tuberculosis.

Tuberculin diagnostics (Mantoux test) is no longer mandatory for every child, as it was 10 years ago.

It is used for screening risk groups, primarily for contact persons, but also for those with immunosuppressive conditions and/or taking immunosuppressive drugs.

A positive Mantoux test result is a reason to contact a family doctor or phthisiatrician to determine the need for preventive treatment.

Specialized phthisiatric care is free of charge.

A phthisiatrician consults if there is an electronic referral. However, if a person does not have a family doctor declaration for any reason, they can contact the Vinnytsia Regional Clinical Phthisiopulmonology Center without a referral.

If the tuberculosis diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will be prescribed.

Tuberculosis is curable.

In Ukraine, despite the war, people who get sick can receive free anti-tuberculosis medications, including modern drugs that are part of the latest treatment regimens.

Treatment is usually outpatient. Hospitalization is required only in case of severe condition.