Tuberculosis: Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. TB can be latent, where the bacteria are dormant and show no symptoms, or active, causing symptoms such as coughing (sometimes with blood), chest pain, fever, and weight loss. Diagnosis involves skin tests, blood tests, and imaging, with treatment typically requiring a combination of antibiotics taken for several months to ensure all bacteria are eliminated. Drug-resistant TB strains pose a significant challenge, requiring more prolonged treatment with second-line medications. Prevention efforts focus on early diagnosis, proper treatment, and infection control measures to limit transmission. Globally, TB remains a major public health concern, especially in areas with limited healthcare access and among immunocompromised individuals. The objective of this book is to give a general view of the different areas of tuberculosis research, and its applications in medicine. This book is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about the theory and concepts of tuberculosis. Researchers and students in this field will be assisted by this book.