Tuberculosis bacillus contagious or not. How is tuberculosis spread? Active prevention includes

Tuberculosis (consumption) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, often referred to as Koch's bacilli. The disease develops only in response to the multiplication of these microbes in the human body.

Tuberculosis is a problem for all mankind. To date, about a third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (this microorganism is the causative agent of tuberculosis). Every year, 1% of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis. Approximately 8.4 million new cases of tuberculosis are registered annually and approximately 2 million people die from this disease.

Tuberculosis is not just a socially determined disease, but an infectious disease. A disease that is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets, that is, when coughing and even talking. Unfortunately, it is not possible to identify an epidemically dangerous patient by appearance.

Tuberculosis is not for nothing called the "insidious" disease. The pronounced symptoms of the disease, alas, often appear only with irreversible changes in the lungs. In most cases, a person with tuberculosis feels well for a long time.

How can you get tuberculosis

The source of the disease is a patient with an infectious (open) form of tuberculosis. During a conversation, sneezing, coughing, he releases a huge amount of pathogens into the environment with sputum droplets, which, after the sputum dries, remain viable for a long time, especially in dimly lit places. Even in dried sputum and on various objects, they survive up to six to eight months. This causes the possibility of contact-household transmission through dishes, linen, books.

Without timely isolation and treatment, each person with active TB can infect up to 10-15 people a year. The disease can affect any person, regardless of his social status and material wealth.

Ways of transmission of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is most commonly spread by airborne droplets and primarily affects the lungs. Infection occurs by inhalation of dust containing tubercle bacillus. The risk of infection increases in a poorly ventilated area, in close contact with the patient, with a large crowd of people. It is very rare to become infected with tuberculosis if you eat products from sick animals - milk, cottage cheese, etc.

What happens when you inhale tubercle bacilli

In most cases, if a person's immune system is normal, inhalation of tubercle bacilli does not lead to the disease in the active stage. A host of defense cells rush to the mycobacteria that have entered the respiratory tract, which absorb and kill most of the pathogens. But some mycobacteria can survive and remain inactive for a long time.

Thus, the "attack" of pathogens on the body remains without consequences. However, after months and even years, when immunity is weakened as a result of some other disease, malnutrition or stress, tuberculosis bacteria begin to multiply, destroying the host cell with their mass and laying the foundation for the development of active tuberculosis.

In some cases, the first time an infection enters the body, the bacteria can multiply, causing serious damage to the lung tissue. These are cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis, which can become a source of further spread of infection.

In some cases, pathogenic bacteria, once in the lungs, can be transferred through the lymphatic vessels or with the bloodstream to other parts of the body, getting into the kidneys, bones and joints, the brain, etc. With good body defenses, mycobacteria remain inactive for a long time, but when the body is weakened, tuberculosis can also develop in these parts of the body.

How to lower your body's defenses

If too many tubercle bacilli, mycobacteria, enter the respiratory tract, the body may not be able to cope with such an onslaught. If you communicate with a TB patient for a long time, your body is constantly attacked, and there may come a time when it can no longer effectively resist the infection.

Other factors contributing to the development of mycobacteria in the body:

• stress - mental or physical overstrain;
• excessive alcohol consumption;
• smoking;
• inadequate or malnutrition;
• other diseases that weaken the body.

Children, teenagers, pregnant women and the elderly are more susceptible to infection.

Causes of tuberculosis

Infection with a pathogen does not always end with a disease. The immune system of a healthy person suppresses the multiplication of the causative agent of tuberculosis and keeps this process under control for a long time. According to statistics, out of 100 healthy people who get tuberculosis microbacteria into their bodies, only 5 will fall ill immediately.

Factors contributing to the development of tuberculosis:

• unfavorable environmental and social living conditions;
• hypothermia;
• malnutrition and malnutrition;
• stress, negative emotions;
• drug addiction, smoking, alcoholism;
• the presence of concomitant diseases (lung disease, peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, diabetes, HIV infection, etc.).

People who have a very high risk of getting TB (risk group):

• alcohol abusers, smokers, drug users;
• treated with drugs that reduce immunity;
• recently had tuberculosis;
• suffering from HIV infection;
• suffering from diabetes;
• malnourished.

The most common localization of tuberculosis is the respiratory organs. Tuberculosis can also affect the lymph nodes, bone tissue, including the spine, tissues surrounding the heart (pericardium), digestive organs, kidneys, and urethra. Sometimes tuberculosis causes inflammation of the brain or spinal cord.

How to protect yourself from tuberculosis

In order not to get sick with tuberculosis, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. Good health requires a healthy nervous system, so it is important to avoid stress. Food should be complete, must contain a sufficient amount of protein. An important condition for maintaining health should be daily normal physical activity. Dusty unventilated rooms favor the spread of tuberculosis bacteria. To prevent the disease, it is necessary to ventilate the premises.

Methods for early detection of tuberculosis are:

• fluorographic examination (FLO from the age of 15);
• immunodiagnostics (children under 17 years old);
• bacteriological method (sputum examination).

Fluorographic examinations are the main and so far the only way to detect the initial forms of tuberculosis in adults and adolescents; the examination must be carried out annually. Remember that avoidance of examination leads to the infection of others, the identification of already severe forms of the disease, which can lead to disability and even death, while timely detected tuberculosis can be cured. Timely detection of the disease in the early stages makes it possible to completely cure the disease, restore health, and with it the usual rhythm and lifestyle.

Where can I get tested for tuberculosis?

A fluorographic examination of the chest can be done at the clinic at the place of residence. If tuberculosis is suspected, the local doctor or specialist doctor, after a clinical additional examination, will refer you for a consultation to a TB specialist in an anti-tuberculosis dispensary.

Who should be screened for TB more often

There are several vulnerable groups of citizens and professional categories of specialists who, for various reasons, should be more frequently examined for tuberculosis.

Twice a year the following must be inspected:

• conscripted military personnel;
• employees of maternity hospitals (departments);
• persons who are in close household or professional contact with sources of tuberculosis infection;
• persons removed from the dispensary register in a tuberculosis institution or unit due to recovery during the first 3 years after deregistration;
• persons who have had tuberculosis and recovered from it on their own, but who have residual changes in the lungs during the first 3 years from the moment the residual changes were detected;
• HIV-infected;
• persons who are on dispensary registration in narcological and psychiatric institutions;
• persons released from pre-trial detention centers and correctional institutions during the first 2 years after release;
• persons under investigation held in pre-trial detention centers, and convicts held in correctional facilities.

Once a year, they must undergo a mandatory examination for tuberculosis:

• patients with chronic nonspecific diseases of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, diabetes mellitus;
• persons receiving corticosteroid, radiation and cytostatic therapy;
• persons belonging to social groups at high risk of tuberculosis: homeless, migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons living in stationary social service institutions and social assistance institutions for persons without a fixed place of residence and employment;
• employees of institutions for children and adolescents: social services, medical and preventive, sanatorium and resort, educational, health and sports.

It should be noted that in addition to the above groups, which are required to undergo an examination for tuberculosis once a year, preventive examinations for tuberculosis at least once a year are also subject to the rest of the population living in the region, regardless of the type of activity and place of work.

In addition, the following are examined on an individual (extraordinary) basis:

• persons seeking medical assistance with suspected tuberculosis;
• persons living together with pregnant women and newborns;
• citizens called up for military service or entering military service under a contract;
• persons diagnosed with HIV infection for the first time.

Remember that the annual fluorography and the Mantoux reaction will help you diagnose the early stages of tuberculosis in time, eliminate undesirable consequences in a timely manner, save you from long-term treatment and protect your loved ones from contracting a very dangerous disease - this is tuberculosis.

How to protect your child from tuberculosis

It is possible to reduce the risk of tuberculosis in a child by carrying out BCG vaccination, which is mandatory and free of charge for all children in the maternity hospital from the 3rd day of life (in the absence of medical contraindications). Children who are not vaccinated at the maternity hospital are vaccinated in the pathology departments of newborns or in a children's clinic, while at the age of over 2 months before BCG vaccination, a Mantoux test with 2 TU must first be given and vaccination is carried out in case of a negative test.

Re-vaccination - BCG revaccination - is carried out at 7 years. If a child or adolescent at the decreed age (7 years) had a medical challenge or a Mantoux test with 2 TU was doubtful (and this is also a contraindication to vaccination), then revaccination against tuberculosis is carried out within one year after the specified age. BCG revaccination is carried out by non-infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) tuberculin-negative children and adolescents.

If a child or adolescent has not formed a post-vaccination sign (scar) or its size is less than 2 mm, then with a negative Mantoux test with 2 TU, 2 years after vaccination and 1 year after revaccination, a re-vaccination against tuberculosis is performed. For the timely detection of tuberculosis infection, all children in the Russian Federation annually undergo a Mantoux tuberculin test and Diaskintest.

Frequently ill children or children with chronic diseases are at risk for tuberculosis. Special attention is paid to this category of children, additional treatment and preventive measures are taken, which are determined by the district doctor, specialist doctor, medical worker of the children's institution. If there are medical indications, the child is referred for a consultation with a phthisiatrician at the place of residence. In order to protect the child from the disease, adults themselves must be sure that they are healthy and undergo medical examinations in a timely manner.

• What is a disease?
• Forms and signs of the disease

How is tuberculosis transmitted? Everyone should know the answer to this question. A person may not realize that he is a carrier of this disease, therefore, in order to avoid this problem, you need to play it safe, it is important to know about possible ways of transmitting the disease.

Before you figure out how tuberculosis is transmitted, you need to know what it is. This is a disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. The causative agent is, and the ways of transmission of tuberculosis are varied. The stick itself is very resistant to external influences. It can be stored for a long time on household items and in water, but when exposed to sunlight, it dies in a short time.

The epidemiology of tuberculosis is quite extensive.

There are two forms of the disease, on which the mechanism of transmission depends. Forms are represented by pulmonary and extrapulmonary types, the first, in turn, is divided into an open type and a closed one. In both cases of the pulmonary form, the human lungs are affected. In this case, it is customary to talk about the presence of two stages of the development of the disease: primary and secondary.

The first stage occurs in patients who have not previously suffered from tuberculosis. In this case, there may even be no symptoms. An x-ray check can reveal small lumps that are foci of inflammation. These foci contain microorganisms that may not manifest themselves for a long time. This is the danger - until some time a person does not know about his problem. A tuberculosis epidemic will not arise because such a person is in contact with others, but for him the consequences can be catastrophic.

It is known how tuberculosis is transmitted, it is known about the conditions and factors that lead to its appearance, but people still cannot bring their fight against it to the end.

The epidemiology of tuberculosis is aware of the primary complex of the disease - the spread through the lymph nodes. For this reason, the first foci of the disease appear. If, after recovery, re-infection occurs, then it's time to talk about the secondary stage. In this regard, there are several forms, from a small number of emerging foci, to the most dangerous types, such as fibrous-cavernous.

Back to index

Forms and signs of the disease

How is tuberculosis of various forms transmitted? It should be said that infection of any organ of the human body can occur, but the most common form is the pulmonary form, inflammation is concentrated in the upper respiratory tract. If the patient is not provided with the necessary assistance, a fatal outcome is possible.

As for the forms, they were previously named. We are talking about closed and open types. In the first case, the disease does not spread, it is localized in the formed tubercles. A person acts as a carrier, for people he is absolutely safe. In the second case, the opposite is true, a person poses a threat to others. This is worsened by the more severe condition of the patient with an open form, so this type is the most dangerous. The primary form is a closed type, while the secondary form is an open type.

The primary stage does not have any pronounced symptoms, their detection occurs during fluorography. Therefore, the prevention of the disease includes an annual examination in the hospital. The secondary stage includes such signs as a persistent cough, a marked decrease in appetite and weight, increased sweating at night, and sometimes fever. In addition, there are pains in the chest area, the appearance of sputum, and in the most severe conditions, there is a discharge of blood during expectoration.

As for the closed type, in this case you can calm down, since it is not transmitted in various ways. However, there are cases when a person can infect others, but this happens extremely rarely. For a patient with a closed form, the following symptoms may be characteristic:

1. Fluid accumulations are seen on x-rays.
2. The appearance of pain when taking a deep breath.

Back to index

How does the disease spread?

Speaking about the spread of the disease, it is necessary to understand one thing: this disease is extremely dangerous and contagious, so it is appropriate to talk about all kinds of transmission methods and sources of tuberculosis infection. People who are interested in their health and protect it often ask the question, is tuberculosis sexually transmitted?

The fact is that the ways of infection are numerous, and with an open form, the patient becomes almost a walking incubator and a spreader of the disease. Little is known about sexual transmission, but it is quite possible, since we are talking about close contact with a person who has an open form of the disease.

The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, of course, that sexual contact will lead to infection of a healthy person. Therefore, in order to avoid further spread of this infection, patients are placed in a tuberculosis dispensary - the disease is so contagious. Tuberculosis microorganisms are easily transmitted in an open form, therefore, in order to avoid such a situation as an epidemic of tuberculosis, treatment is also carried out in special dispensaries, where patients are isolated.

A separate category that makes up the ways of infection is contact with the things of the patient. It must be repeated that the disease is very contagious, so even the things of the patient with whom he had contact should be removed.

In nature, there are many infections, many of which affect the human body. One of the most common infectious diseases, both several centuries ago and today, is tuberculosis. The disease usually affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other parts of the body such as the brain and spine. Inflammatory processes are provoked by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. How is this bacterium transmitted?

Is tuberculosis contagious: answers to questions

If a few centuries ago people died from tuberculosis, today the disease can be cured with antibiotics. But the treatment process takes a long time, since it will not be so easy to destroy the infection. Patients with this diagnosis undergo long-term treatment, which can take 6-9 months or even more.

Is pulmonary tuberculosis contagious or not? This question interests many. First, let's find out how it spreads. You will be surprised, but the infection spreads in the same way as the flu. When a sick person coughs, sneezes, talks or laughs, tiny droplets of saliva containing germs are released into the air. If the interlocutor inhales these drops, infection occurs. That is, infection occurs by airborne droplets.

Despite the fact that tuberculosis is contagious, it is not so easy to “catch” it. Bacteria reproduce slowly, so a casual interlocutor is unlikely to become infected. That is why colleagues, friends and family members of a sick person are most often infected with tuberculosis, as they often come into contact with him.

Tuberculous bacteria do not "live" on surfaces, and you cannot get infected from shaking hands or touching a door handle in a public place.

In addition, it is not so easy to recognize the disease, since bacteria can live in your body for many months or even years, and only then manifest themselves (with a decrease in immunity).

How does tuberculosis affect the body?

TB infection does not mean you are sick. There are 2 forms of the disease:

Hidden - You have this type of germ in your body, but your immune system does not allow it to multiply. This means that you are not infected and have no symptoms. But the infection is still present in your body and one day it may become active.

Active form - bacteria multiply, which leads to the manifestation of symptoms. You can also infect others. 90% of cases of active tuberculosis are reactivation of a latent infection.

The latent form has no symptoms. The only way to find out if you are infected is through a blood test.

Symptoms of the active form:

• Cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks;
• Chest pain;
• coughing up blood;
• Feeling tired throughout the day
• night sweats;
• Chills, fever;
• Loss of appetite;
• Weight loss.

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor for the necessary tests.

Who is at risk?

Those who frequently come into contact with an infected person are more likely to become infected. Here are a few situations where the risk of infection increases to a maximum:

• A friend, co-worker, or family member has active TB;
• You live or travel in an area where this disease is common (Russia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America).
• The risk zone includes the homeless, people with HIV, drug addicts.
• You work in a hospital.
• A healthy immune system successfully fights tuberculosis bacteria. But due to a weakened immune system, the risk of getting sick increases, especially in the following cases:
• HIV or AIDS;
• Diabetes;
• kidney disease;
• Oncology;
• undergoing chemotherapy;
• Low body weight, malnutrition;
• Taking drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis.

Children are also at great risk as their immune systems are not fully developed.

The answer to the question "Is tuberculosis contagious" is yes. Yes, it is contagious, as the infection is transmitted by airborne droplets. With frequent contact with a sick person, the chances increase.

Tuberculosis is caused by tuberculosis bacteria. It is transmitted to people through the air. The bacteria of a person with pulmonary tuberculosis is released into the air when he/she coughs, talks or sneezes. If you are nearby, you can breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

You can also get TB if you are in poor physical shape, have lost a lot of weight due to a lack of food, or if you have HIV.

It's not your fault if you have tuberculosis. Tuberculosis cannot come from anger or irritation. This disease is not a punishment for bad deeds and is not inherited.

Questions and answers

Can I get TB if I eat with a spoon or drink from a bottle or cup of a sick person?

No, you can't, because bacteria that are ingested when swallowed cannot cause TB.

Can I get TB if I sleep in a bed that someone with TB recently slept in?

No, you cannot, unless he/she is currently sleeping in this room. Bacteria stays on bedding and does not get into the air even if you shake it. Therefore, you cannot inhale them.

Can I get TB if I sit next to a person who is coughing?

Don't be afraid to use buses and trains for fear of getting TB. HE is not easily transmitted. To get sick with tuberculosis, you need to spend several hours with a person who has this disease. However, it is best to stay away from a coughing person and wash your hands after getting off the bus. A person who coughs can have the flu, which spreads much faster.

Can I get TB from relatives who live with me or who cough a lot?

Yes, you can if he/she has tuberculosis. If your relative has been coughing for a long time, take him/her to the doctor. This will find out the cause of his/her cough.

Can I get TB during intercourse?

You cannot get TB through intercourse or kissing. However, if your partner coughs for a long time, he/she may have TB. If you spend a long time with him/her, there is a risk of contracting tuberculosis.

If your partner is being treated for TB, you can have sex with him/her. A person undergoing treatment for tuberculosis does not spread the disease.

Tuberculosis is considered one of the most serious pathological processes, methods of combating which have been developed over a period of not a single decade. It is important to have an idea of ​​how tuberculosis is transmitted, what are the factors influencing the development of the disease and what symptomatic manifestations it can be accompanied by. Let's try to understand the question of how tuberculosis can be transmitted.

Development factors

Many people are interested in how tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person? Tuberculosis disease occurs as a result of exposure to the body of harmful bacteria - Koch's bacilli. Pathology is considered contagious, which requires healthy and infected people to pay special attention to their health. Infection of a healthy body proceeds relatively quickly, while it is almost impossible to completely get rid of the disease. There is a special science that studies this disease. Based on the statistics obtained, it was revealed that every third patient on the planet is infected with Koch's wand, most of which end in death.

Over the course of several decades, the study of the disease has been able to fully form the varieties of factors associated with the mechanism of transmission of tuberculosis, which can provoke the onset and subsequent development of tuberculosis. The main virus - Koch's bacillus - is able to exist in almost any conditions. It is for this reason that the chances of overcoming it through the immune system are significantly small. However, despite the strength of their existence, bacteria are extremely negative about exposure to direct sunlight. Since the outer defense of Koch's wand is very strong, it loses its ability to actively move around internal organs and systems. In this regard, the initial period of development of the pathological process has a long character.

Since the disease is latent, can manifest itself at any time and spread no less actively, it is especially important to have an idea of ​​​​how tuberculosis is transmitted. The process of transmission from an infected organism to a healthy one can be carried out even through ordinary water, in which the infection may be present. Infection options can be varied, but measures to prevent infection always remain the same:

• avoiding being in overly crowded places;
• exclude contact with infected people, it is forbidden even to be in the same room;
• it is recommended to visit the dispensary in special masks, while not contacting its visitors;
• support the strength of the body's immune system.

Where can you get tuberculosis? The process of penetration of bacteria into the body is carried out through several options. First of all, by airborne droplets. This option is considered the most common.

The entry of harmful bacteria into the body occurs through inhalation of air. Another way bacteria get in is through food. The source of infection can be meat and dairy products from infected animals. The most rare is the intrauterine method of infection.

In this case, the placenta is exposed to infection.

Risk of infection

How can you get tuberculosis? When in contact with a TB patient, what is the risk of infection? Infection with tuberculosis is possible only with prolonged contact with a person who has this pathology. As a rule, tuberculosis is transmitted after six months of contact. If the stay with the sick person was irregular and short, then the chances of contracting pulmonary tuberculosis will be low. If a person has a strong immune system, then the inhalation of harmful bacteria (Koch's sticks) does not pose a threat to a healthy body, especially. If the contact was made on the street. Despite the active struggle of immunity, microorganisms are able to persist in a healthy body for a short period of time, but their state is characterized as inactive. As soon as the immune system begins to weaken, a person may not eat properly or is affected by stressful situations, microorganisms begin to actively manifest themselves, multiply and provoke the development of an active form of tuberculosis.

Ways of transmission of tuberculosis can be very diverse. How is tuberculosis transmitted? After entering the body, Koch's wand spreads to all organs and systems of the body through blood flow or lymph nodes. First of all, the lungs, brain, kidneys and bones are exposed to infection. An equally important role is played by the age category of the patient. Patients at a young or adolescent age are most affected by the pathological process. Representatives of the weak half of humanity are susceptible to the disease in the period from 24 to 35 years. Concomitant diseases are often capable of provoking an active form of tuberculosis. These include HIV infection (considered the most common among young people). This deviation can significantly suppress the activity of the immune system. It is imperative for such patients to conduct Mantoux tests annually. Also, the development of the pathological process can be affected by diseases of the lungs and blood, kidney failure, elevated blood sugar levels and the presence of malignant neoplasms in the body. Is TB hereditary? The answer in this case is negative.

There is a so-called risk group, which includes patients who are most susceptible to developing tuberculosis. These include teenagers, those who live in a damp and underheated environment, patients with poor nutrition, and those who are subject to constant hypothermia.

Methods of infection

Consider the main ways of infection with tuberculosis. Many are interested in the question, how does infection with such a disease as tuberculosis occur? There are several options for infecting a healthy body with Koch's wand. Consider the main ways of transmission of tuberculosis infection:

1. Airborne route. It is considered the most common variant of infection of a healthy body. Contact in this case is carried out with an open form of the disease. Bacteria enter the air and infect the body for several days.
2. Contact. Infection is carried out through household items. The infection process is carried out through the mucous membranes or skin. Contact with household items is especially dangerous. In this case, you can get infected through a kiss.
3. Food. Most often, harmful bacteria are present in meat and milk.
4. Contactless. In this case, it is possible to become infected with tuberculosis in a room in which a sick patient had previously been for a long time. Since bacteria can remain active in the air for a long time, a thorough sanitary and epidemiological treatment should be carried out before living. After disinfection, it is recommended to carry out repair work if possible.
5. Intrauterine. It occurs relatively rarely. In the process of bearing a child, harmful bacteria can be transmitted in the womb from the mother to the child's body.

Is tuberculosis sexually transmitted? In this case, the probability of contracting tuberculosis from a patient is relatively small. Very often, infection occurs in the spring or autumn. During this period, the disease is rapidly activated, especially if contact is made with a sick patient.

Common symptomatic signs include shortness of breath, sputum production during coughing, headaches, elevated body temperatures that are difficult to bring back to normal, severe weight loss, and decreased performance.

If such violations are detected, you should immediately seek help from qualified specialists.

The importance of preventive measures

It is especially important to pay attention to the prevention of tuberculosis. These activities provide an opportunity to answer the question of how not to get infected with tuberculosis. What should be done to prevent tuberculosis? First of all, it is necessary to control the optimal ventilation of the room, which corresponds to the basic sanitary standards.

Equally important is the observance of the rules of personal hygiene: you must regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Nutrition should be balanced and healthy, since overall health largely depends on the vitamins and minerals that enter the body. Every day, carry out wet cleaning with products containing chlorine. You should actively engage in sports, this will maintain and strengthen the immune system. When diagnosing an active form of tuberculosis in a patient, it is recommended to give preference to treatment with chemotherapy drugs and at the same time not to think about whether tuberculosis is inherited.

In order to protect yourself from the effects of pulmonary tuberculosis, it is important to prevent its occurrence in a timely manner, and if you suspect the presence of a pathology, immediately seek help from a medical institution and start taking anti-tuberculosis drugs.