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When is World TB Day celebrated in 2023?
World TB Day 2023 falls on March 24. The date is fixed. It is not considered a red day of the calendar, but it plays an important role in informing society about the seriousness of the disease and the need to combat it.
history of the holiday
In 1982, WHO established World Tuberculosis Day. The date of this event was not chosen by chance.
In 1882, the German microbiologist Robert Koch identified the causative agent of tuberculosis, which was called Koch’s bacillus. It took 17 years of laboratory research, which made it possible to take a step forward in understanding the nature of this disease and identifying methods for its treatment. And in 1887, the first tuberculosis dispensary was opened.
In 1890, Robert Koch received an extract of tuberculosis cultures – tuberculin. At a medical congress, he announced the preventive and, possibly, therapeutic effect of tuberculin. The tests were carried out on experimental animals, as well as on him and his assistant, who, by the way, later became his wife.
Thanks to these and further discoveries, in 1921, a newborn child was vaccinated with BCG for the first time. This served as a gradual reduction in mass diseases and the development of long-term immunity to tuberculosis.
Despite the great breakthrough in the detection and treatment of this disease, it is still one of the dangerous diseases that require serious and long-term treatment, as well as early diagnosis.
Holiday traditions
On TB Day 2023, open events are held in Our Country in clinics and hospitals, where people are introduced to the features of the disease and treatment methods. Volunteer movements distribute leaflets and booklets with important information. Conferences are organized in medical and educational institutions, where they talk about the need to prevent the disease in order to avoid its spread. Competitions are held for the best wall newspaper, flash mobs and promotions.
The main thing about the disease
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria. Mostly there is a lesion of the lungs, less often it is possible to meet the defeat of bone tissue, joints, skin, genitourinary organs, eyes. The disease appeared a very long time ago and was extremely common. This is evidenced by the found remains of the Stone Age with tuberculous changes in bone tissue. Hippocrates also described the advanced forms of the disease with pulmonary hemorrhages, severe exhaustion of the body, coughing and the release of a large amount of sputum, and severe intoxication.
Since tuberculosis, which in ancient times was called consumption, is contagious, there was a law in Babylon that allowed you to divorce a sick wife who contracted pulmonary tuberculosis. In India, the law required reporting of all cases of illness.
It is transmitted mainly by airborne droplets, but there is a chance of becoming infected through the things of the patient, through food (milk of a sick animal, eggs).
The risk group includes young children, the elderly, patients with AIDS and HIV infection. If a person experiences frequent hypothermia, lives in a damp, poorly heated room, the likelihood of spreading the disease is also high.
Often tuberculosis does not manifest itself in the early stages. With the appearance of obvious signs, it can already develop with might and main, and in the absence of timely and high-quality treatment, a fatal outcome is inevitable.
In this regard, the best prevention is an annual medical examination and a fluorographic examination. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, walks in the fresh air are no less important components in the prevention of the disease. As for children, as a preventive measure, it is customary for newborns to be vaccinated with BCG in the absence of contraindications, and then annually to carry out the Mantoux reaction to detect the disease at an early stage.
Five facts about tuberculosis
- Tuberculosis is one of the ten leading causes of death in the world.
- According to WHO, approximately one third of the world’s population is infected with the bacterium tuberculosis, but only a small proportion of these people become ill.
- Over the years, the Koch bacillus has learned to evolve and today there is tuberculosis that is resistant to most drugs.
- This disease is destroyed very difficult and long. It is required to take several drugs at the same time for six months, and in some cases up to two years. Often, surgery is required.
- American professor Sebastien Gan and his team found that there are six groups of virus strains, each of which manifests itself in a certain part of the world and is tied to a certain geographical area. Thus, the professor came to the conclusion that in order to effectively combat the disease, it is necessary to develop individual vaccines for each of the identified groups of strains.