Building immunity is the key

First the good news. Tuberculosis (TB), the disease that claimed 1.6 million lives in 2005, is witnessing a decline according to the 2007 Global Tuberculosis Control Report of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

However, the bad news is that WHO also warns of a gradual rise in the number of new TB cases, primarily due to an increasing population. In fact, in India, two people die every three minutes from TB and one in every three people are infected.

The TB bacteria can now be found in over one-third of the world's population, though not every infected person develops the disease since the bacteria remains latent.

However, without proper nutrition, the latent infection can turn into an active disease if the immune system weakens. In other cases, TB easily spreads through any direct contact with active TB patients but not latent TB carriers.

Dr Nevin Kishore, senior consultant pulmonologist at Max Hospital, explains, "We are all exposed to the TB bacteria but it is inactive. However, if our immunity goes down, you can get the disease through the reactivation of the bacteria."

He adds that while traditionally TB infested the lower strata of the society, it has now spread into the higher economic strata as well. A strong immune system is the key. While diet and stress levels are integral in keeping the immune system strong, immunosuppressive drugs, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS all weaken the system.

A whopping 75 per cent of the active TB cases affect the lungs, leading to prolonged cough with blood stains, chest pain, fever, appetite loss, weight loss and fatigue. The infection can also spread out of the lungs into the lymphatic system, central nervous system, bones, joints and the spine. The disease, however, is curable through antibiotics.

The medication is prolonged and requires between six and 12 months to entirely eliminate the microbacterium from the body. Kishore warns that most patients tend to stop medication once they get better not realising that the infection is still present in their body.

The easiest way to avoid TB is to maintain a healthy diet and avoid stress as much as possible. Doctors also advice staying away from a TB patient and getting yourself tested at the first possible symptom. Caution, indeed, is the best solution.