Over 8 Million People Diagnosed With TB Last Month: Know Early Signs

More than 8 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. It is the highest number recorded since it began keeping track. According to the agency, about 1.25 million people died of TB last year, the new report said, adding that TB likely returned to being the world’s top infectious disease killer after being replaced by Covid-19 during the pandemic. The deaths are almost double the number of people killed by HIV in 2023.

TB deaths continue to fall globally, however, and the number of people being newly infected is beginning to stabilise. The agency noted that of the 400,000 people estimated to have drug-resistant TB last year, fewer than half were diagnosed and treated. WHO said TB continues to mostly affect people in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Western Pacific; India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines and Pakistan account for more than half of the world’s cases.

TB is an infectious disease that affects lungs and other related tissues. It can also affect other organs such as spine, brain or kidneys. The word “tuberculosis” comes from a Latin word for "nodule" or something that sticks out.

According to Centre of Disease Control (CDC), if you have active TB in your lungs, you might have a bad cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, chest pain, or coughing up blood. You might also feel weak, lose weight, have no appetite, get chills, have a fever, or sweat a lot at night. If TB is in other parts of your body, the symptoms depend on where it is.

For example, TB in your lymph nodes might cause a swollen lump under your skin. TB in your kidneys could make your urine look bloody. TB in your brain might cause headaches or confusion. TB in your spine could cause back pain. TB in your larynx could make your voice hoarse. Inactive TB means you don't have any symptoms, but it can turn into active TB and make you sick if you don't get treatment.