HEALTH TIPS

sons were newly infected with TB, with a mortality rate of 1.7.

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Family meDicine, enDocrinology/DiabeTes

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, though it can affect any organ in the body. It can develop when bacteria spread through droplets in the air. TB can be fatal, but, in many cases, it is preventable and treatable. In the past, TB, or “consumption,” was a major cause of death worldwide. Following improvements in living conditions and the development of antibiotics, the prevalence of TB fell dramatically in industrialised countries.

However, numbers started to rise again in the 1980s.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes TB as an “epidemic”. It reports that it is the 13th leading cause of death globally, and “the second leading infectious killer, after COVID-19”. The WHO estimates that, in 2020, nearly 10 million people worldwide developed TB and 1.5 million people died from the disease, including 214,000 people who also had HIV.

In Guyana, the 2022 data indicates that 396 per-

Currently, antibiotic resistance is causing renewed concerns about TB among experts. Some strains of the disease are not responding to the most effective treatment options. In this case, TB is difficult to treat. A person may develop TB after inhaling Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis) bacteria, primarily from person to person. When TB affects the lungs, the disease is most contagious, but a person would usually become sick only after close contact with someone who has this type of TB.

TB INFECTION

(LATENT TB)An individual can have TB bacteria in their body and never develop symptoms. In most people, the immune system can contain bacteria so that they do not replicate and cause disease. In this case, a person would have TB infection, but not an active disease. There is no risk of passing on a latent infection to someone else. However, a person with latent TB still requires treatment.

TB DISEASE (ACTIVE TB)

The body may be unable to contain TB bacteria. This is more common when the immune system is weakened due to illness or the use of certain medications. When this happens, the bacteria can replicate and cause symptoms, resulting in active TB.

People with active TB can spread the infection. Without medical intervention, TB becomes active in 5–10% of people with the infection.

According to the CDC, progression occurs within ing and the need for all road users to comply with traffic laws and regulations. He also urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles are properly insured and maintained, as this is essential for ensuring their safety and the safety of others on the road.

The Lethem Police Station Traffic Department has pledged to continue its efforts to promote road safety and crack down on traffic violations and is urging members of the public to do their part by complying with traffic laws and regulations.

From 2021 to now, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) began to intensify its campaign against vehicles with coloured lights across the country, and several persons were charged.