NIAID Is Dedicated To Saving The Lives Of People With TB

Originally published on niaid.nih.gov Statement of Christine F. Sizemore, PhD., Richard Hafner, M.D., and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of Health Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s most devastating infectious diseases. March 24th marks the day in 1882 when German microbiologist Robert Koch announced he had discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes this ancient scourge. Today, in recognition of World TB Day, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reasserts its commitment to improving our understanding of TB and how to prevent, diagnose and treat it. Around the globe, researchers and the public health community are united in working toward these goals.    TB is the world’s leading cause of death from an infectious disease, especially among women and children. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.8 million people worldwide died of TB in 2015. The symptoms of the disease, which is transmitted through the air and primarily affects the lungs, often begin with coughing, shortness of breath or swollen lymph nodes—but can end in death if left untreated. People with HIV are especially vulnerable: of deaths among people co-infected with HIV and TB, about one quarter are due to TB. In addition, the World Health Organization estimates that about one-third of the world&...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news