Tuberculosis Resource Guide

This guide is for medical assistant schools.

 The following source will provide you with information about the tuberculosis disease that primarily effects the lungs and other internal organisms.

General Information

Tuberculosis (TB) infectious disease that results from a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is best known to affect the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. A third of the world's civilization is known to be affected with this disease, killing approximately 2 million people per year. German physician Robert Koch discovered it in 1882 which he later received a Nobel prize for his significant discovery.

• Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: general information about tuberculosis and the kinds of infections dealing with human tuberculosis.

• Epidemiology of Tuberculosis: PDF file of 42 pages all about the study relating to the epidemiology of the disease.

• General Health Information: list of links to general information about health, health news and federal agencies.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Normally, when tuberculosis is discovered, chances are that it's pulmonary tuberculosis which is located in the lungs. In most cases, symptoms could be regular coughs for a long period of time, significant amount of weight-loss, fever, late night sweats, coughing up blood, lack of appetite, and loss of energy. Below are diagnostic resources on TB.

• Tuberculosis Symptoms: detailed information about the symptoms of tuberculosis and links leading to other articles about the symptoms.

• Tuberculosis Night Sweats: learn all about the night sweats being a symptom of tuberculosis along with other useful information dealing with the disease.

• Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Infection and Disease: detailed information about the tools used to discover whether the tuberculosis disease is present in the body.

Causes and Risk Factors Involved

TB is an airbone affliction, making it particularly contagious. Below are links to current research as well as the lastest information on TB and respatory health.

• Tuberculosis Diagnostic Research: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases presents material about diagnostic research that could possibly lead to the improvement of diagnostic tools.

• International Journal of Epidemiology: research study case of the risk factors involved with tuberculosis along with detailed data charts.

• American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: case study along with detailed charts about risk factors for tuberculosis infection in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• European Respiratory Journal: case study of the lifestyle risk factors of tuberculosis in Liverpool, North-West England.

Prevention and Treatment

Tuberculosis is often treated using antibiotics. Prescribed medication is usually taken regularly for up to six to nine months. Below are resources for treating TB.

• Treatment of Tuberculosis: a research study by the American Thoracic Society, CDC, and Infectious Diseases Society of America all about the treatment of tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis Treatment Regimens: learn what treatment regimens are recommended for treating the disease and monitoring for toxicity.

• Preventing Active Tuberculosis in Immigrants: article about how to prevent tuberculosis when moving to a new country.

Additional Resources for Professionals

• Combatting Tuberculosis and Homelessness

• California Tuberculosis Controllers Association

• South African National Tuberculosis Association

• TB/HIV Research Foundation

• The Stop TB Partnership

• Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center

• World Health Organization

Tuberculosis is one of the three infections when it comes to poverty diseases and the oldest human remains that showed evidence of the disease are 9,000 years old. Tuberculosis is not just limited to humans but can also be carried through animals as well such as wild and domestic species.