Effects of Living Conditions on spread of Tuberculosis

One of the worlds most lethal communicable diseases is Tuberculosis (TB). 9

million people developed TB and 1.5 million died as a result in 2013 (World
Health Organisation 2014). It is believed that the majority of deaths from TB are
preventable. This essay identifies how living conditions affects both the infection
and death toll of the disease.
Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease that is spread through microscopic
droplets in the air, usually when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It is
characterised the growth of tubercles (nodules) in the infected persons tissue
(Kong, Pm et al. 2002). Due to the airborne nature of the transmission of the
disease it usually spreads where large number of people are in close contact. As
TB is a bacterial infection it can spread through lymph nodes and bloodstream to
any organ in the body. In the majority of cases the tubercles appear in the lungs.
For the most part people exposed to TB do not develop symptoms, the bacteria
remain inactive in the body. Those that are most at risk are people with an
already weak immune system such as the elderly and those with HIV. When TB
bacteria are in their active state they cause the death of tissue in the infected
organs. The spread and prevalence of tuberculosis is largely to do with the livings
conditions of those infected.
A bacterial disease spread through the air, tuberculosis can only be spread short
distances from person to person. In the majority of cases an isolated exposure to
the bacteria is not sufficient for infection. Due to the repeated exposure required
for infection, TB usually spread to family members or people who live in very
close contact (WHO, 2014). Homeless people and those living in refugee camps
are at an increased risk of infection (Kong, Pm et al. 2002). The bacteria survive
longer in damp and dusty rooms without fresh air or sunlight. The transmission
and infection capacity of tuberculosis is highly dependent on the environment
and living condition of those at risk.
Tuberculosis was virtually wiped out after the introduction of antibiotics to treat it
in the 1950s, today more drug resistant strains have emerged and become quite
widespread in certain area. The prevalence and spread of tuberculosis are tied to
the environment. The living conditions of the infected and those around them
allow or prevent the disease from spreading (WHO, 2014). TB can only be
contracted with near constant expose to the bacteria. So anywhere where people
are in extremely close contact TB become a problem, refugee camps, slums and
inner city homeless people are at an increased risk. Also TB only becomes active
in those with an already reduced immune system, the classic example of this are
those infected with HIV. But anyone with a low immunity could become infected.
The disease can survive longer in dark and damp areas without fresh air or
sunlight, slums and homeless people live in such conditions. Even with the new
strains of drug resistant of TB the majority of cases can still be treated. Those
people that live in low socioeconomic areas or people that do not have access to
medical services have higher fatalities.
Tuberculosis is a reoccurring health challenge that is affect by a number of
factors, the most significant being peoples living conditions. Those people living

in poverty in close proximity to a large number of other people are at the

greatest risk. Even so with the correct treatment tuberculosis is not lethal. To
eradicate it on a global level increased education about the need to seek
immediate medical attention and isolation can control the spread.

References
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