World Tuberculosis Day: Disease causes infertility, only lungs are at serious danger, and other myths busted (2024)

By Dr Anand Jaiswal

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the longest existing diseases, and the most-common cause of mortality in developing countries like India. TB is an infectious disease which can be transmitted through cough. People suffering with infection from HIV, diabetes mellitus, low body weight, silicosis (a respiratory condition caused by inhaling silica dust), head or neck cancer, leukaemia, and autoimmune or vasculitic diseases which affects the immune system are more prone to the risk.

While TB is one of the most common diseases in the country, it is also one of the most misunderstood diseases with many misconceptions surrounding it. It is therefore important to create awareness, and bust the myths surrounding the disease to tackle and prevent it.

Myth 1: TB is genetic
Fact: TB is not hereditary and genetics do not play a role in the acquisition or spread of this disease. TB is an infectious disease which can affect anyone at any time.

Myth 2: TB is not curable and will eventually lead to death

Fact: While TB is a potentially fatal disease, especially for those at higher risk, it can largely be cured through timely screening and treatment. Early diagnosis plays a crucial role. If untreated or with treatment defaults, the disease carries high mortality.

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TB isn't a poor man’s disease.

Myth 3: Every patient with TB can spread the disease and needs to be isolated
Fact: Only about one-third of patients infected with TB may spread it to others through coughing. In case the patient has no symptoms of coughing, there is no risk of infection. Once the patient starts undergoing effective treatment, the chances of risk are eliminated over a few weeks. Patients having pulmonary TB can transmit the disease through coughing. Extrapulmonary TB is usually non-contagious.

Myth 4: TB occurs only in the lungs
Fact: While the disease mostly occurs in the lungs, it can also affect other parts of the body such as kidney, spine or brain. The signs and symptoms vary depending upon the organs affected. TB occurring outside of the lungs is known as extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, one must consult the doctor immediately on experiencing common symptoms. When left untreated, the active disease can affect the lungs and spread to other body parts through the bloodstream.

Myth 5: TB can cause infertility
Fact: The most common kind of TB which is pulmonary TB (TB of the lungs) does not cause infertility. However, in rare cases, when TB affects the uterus or genitals, it may lead to infertility.

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TB can be transmitted through cough.

Myth 6: TB is a poor man’s disease
Fact: Though TB is found more commonly among people in the low socio-economic strata (undernutrition being common), no section of society is immune to infection and disease.

Myth 7: TB won't affect non-smokers as it is a disease of the lungs
Fact: There are many risk factors which can cause TB such as HIV, diabetes, malnutrition and kidney disease, among others. Also, it is a disease which affects other organs apart from the lungs.

Myth 8: TB infection and TB disease are the same
Fact: TB infection is a condition where the germs that have entered the body by coming in contact with an infected person are in a latent state. This infection gradually progresses to TB disease when the germs become active and start affecting the body.

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TB doesn't affect only smokers.

Awareness about TB
It is crucial to bust myths related to TB for ensuring effective protection against the disease. Alongside myths, awareness around the warning signs is also important for timely detection. The most common symptom is low-grade fever with the body temperature rising predominantly in the evenings along with loss of weight and appetite. Apart from this, other symptoms vary from case to case.

For example, in case of pulmonary TB, symptoms include cough, sputum and haemoptysis (coughing up blood). In case of extrapulmonary TB like lymph node TB, the signs comprise of fever, lumps in the neck and cold abscess (pus collection). If it’s a case of pleural TB (fluid in the pleural space surrounding the lung), there can be cough, breathlessness and pleuritic chest pain.

(The author is Director, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram)