TUBERCULOSIS

Question 1

cause

Answer 1

• bacillus bacterium, mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 2

transmission (4)

Answer 2

• rapid spread by aerosol, inhalation of bacteria-laden droplets
• infected coughs and sneezes spread the bacteria
• rapidly spreads in crowded conditions, densely populated cities at risk
• at-risk immune systems (i.e AIDS/HIV) linked with TB increase

Question 3

symptoms (4)

Answer 3

• typically infect lungs so patients have chest pain and cough up phlegm (sometimes containing blood)
• bacteria may infect lymph nodes leading to swelling of the neck
• loss of apetite
• fever

Question 4

treatment (2)

Answer 4

• long antibiotics course

- but showing resistance

Question 5

prevention (3)

Answer 5

• BCG vaccine given to babies and people (with a negative skin test) up to 16 providing 75% protection for 15 years
• less effective in adults, so only given to at-risk
• made from weakened strain of related bacterium