Essay Archive - Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a germ (bacterium) called
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This germ primarily affects the lungs and may infect
In the United States, the number of TB cases steadily decreased until 1986 when
an increase was noted; TB has continued to rise since. Today, ten million
individuals are infected in the U.S., as evidenced by positive skin tests, with
approximately 26,000 new cases of active disease each year. The increase in TB
cases is related to HIV/AIDS, homelessness, drug abuse and immigration of
persons with active infections.
How is TB Contracted?
TB is a contagious or infectious di....
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