Since time immemorial, tuberculosis has been one of humanity's greatest nemesis. The earliest of human civilizations have suffered tremendous wrecks from this dreadful and fatal disease. Mummies from Egypt beginning 2400 BCE are proofs of the long-enduring curse of tuberculosis. Even the ancient Greece have their share of tuberculosis plague. It is from Greek literature that the word phthisis, which means consumption, was first discovered. It was prevalent that Hippocrates called it as the most fatal disease of their time.

The bacteria by the name of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the identified cause of tuberculosis. More popularly known as TB, tuberculosis is misconceived by many as a disease exclusive to the lungs. While it mainly affects the lungs, some body parts, or almost every body part actually, can be affected by TB. The central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones, and joints are just some other body parts that can be harmed by TB.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an aerobis bacterium that grows slowly that it takes 16 to 20 hours to divide. When this bacteria is inhaled, it settles around the lung area and its eventual multiplication leads to pneumonia. Lymph nodes connected to the lungs can also be affected by the infection. These lymph nodes become enlarged and its normal healthy processes gets badly affected. The bacteria that causes TB is highly probable to spread around the nearby areas and can reach other body parts as well. As a natural response to any bacteria, the human body's immune system would act by producing scar tissues (fibrosis) to fence the bacteria in the hope of containing its spread. The main goal of our body's immune system's response is to isolate the bacteria from the other tissues and organs of our body. If a person's immune system succeeds in doing so, the disease may be made inactive. People whose immune system successfully mitigates the spread of the bacteria generally show no signs and symptoms of the infection. However, constant production of fibrosis can lead to yet another bad effect. When massive deposits of calcium go to the scar tissues, calcification, the lymph nodes, and the scar tissues are likely to harden like stone.

The success of our body's immune system on quelling or at least, containing the harmful effects of the bacteria lies on the assumption that it remains well and healthy. But if our body's immune system is deteriorated by other factors or infections, TB bacteria is very well able of escaping the fences of the scar tissues and proceed with its natural way of living-- replication and invasion of other body parts. When this happens, pneumonia is very likely to happen again and again. Worse and highly probable, the bacteria may invade the kidneys, bone, spinal cord, and brain lining.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is characterized by its staining capabilities. Even if the bacteria is treated, it can leave some strains especially if it had been treated with an acidic solution.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has three other myobacteria-- M.microti, M.bovis, and M.africanum-- that can cause tuberculosis. There are also other myobacteria (nontuberculous myobacteria) that can cause TB-like pulmonary diseases, skin disease, and lymphadenitis.

The primary mode of transmission is the inhalation of infected air exhaled by a TB carrier. The bacteria is transported outside the lungs and mix with the air everytime a TB-infected person sneezes, spits, coughs, or even shouts. People at a close distance can then easily get easily get the bacteria and get infected.

When the TB infection is active, one that has not been contained by scar tissues, a number of symptoms can easily manifest. Patients with an active TB infection show symptoms of poor general health condition, noticeable weight loss, fever, and night sweats. If the lungs get so infected, chest pain, coughing up of sputum and/or blood, and poor breathing generally occur.

A combination of Myambutol, Rifadin, pyrazinamide, together with isoniazid is the most common treatment for TB infections that are active and progressive. In cases of patients not being able to comply with oral medications, injection of Streptomycin is given. The duration and intensity of medication depends on how grave or serious the case already is. Patients who had an early detection of the infection are more likely to be cured immediately than those at late detection.