Tuberculosis(TB)
LESSON OBJECTIVES (LO)
By the end of the lesson the learner should be able to: State the name and type of causative organism of
tuberculosis( TB).
 Explain how tuberculosis(TB) is transmitted.
 Discuss the biological, social and economic factors that
need to be considered in the prevention and control of
tuberculosis(TB)
LO: State the name and type of causative organism
(pathogen) of tuberculosis (TB).
Starter:
Q.1 By use of named examples, differentiate between
infectious and non-infectious disease.
Infectious Disease
Non-infectious Disease
 Can be passed from an infected
person or cattle to an uninfected
person( transmissible).
 Cannot be passed from an
infected person to uninfected
person(non transmissible).
 Caused by a pathogen.
 Not caused by a pathogen, may be
genetic or cardiovascular.
Examples; Malaria, Cholera,
Smallpox Measles, Tuberculosis.
Examples; Lung cancer, Sickle -cell
anaemia, Cystic fibrosis, Myasthenia
gravis.
Q.2 The list below shows the scientific names of some organisms
written incorrectly. Write the names correctly.
Plasmodium FALCIPARUM
Plasmodium falciparum
VIBRIO Cholerae
Vibrio cholerae
Mycobacterium Bovis
Mycobacterium bovis
MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
mycobacterium microti
Mycobacterium microti
NB: The genus name and the species name must be underlined
separately when hand written or not written in italics.
LO: State the name and type of causative organism
(pathogen) of tuberculosis (TB)
(C and B)
What causes tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is caused by either of two bacteria;
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Mycobacterium bovis
•
The first site of infection is the lungs, then the bacteria may
spread throughout the whole body to the lymph nodes,
spine, bone tissue and the gut.
Q.3. What is an endemic disease?
LO: State the name and type of causative organism
(pathogen) of tuberculosis (TB).
Forms of Tuberculosis
Active TB
Latent TB(Inactive)
 Occurs in individuals
 Occurs in individuals who get infected
who get infected and
show symptoms of the
disease.
 People with active TB
can spread the disease
to uninfected people.
but the bacteria remain inactive for a
long time.
 This form of TB cannot be passed to an
uninfected person.
 The bacteria may become active due to
weakening of the immune system as a
result of malnutrition or disease/HIV.
LO: State the name and type of causative organism
(pathogen) of tuberculosis (TB).
Q.4.What are the symptoms of Tuberculosis?
 Persistent cough.
 Coughing up blood.
 Chest pain.
 Breathlessness.
 Fever.
 Fatigue.
 Night sweats.
 Lack of appetite.
 Weight loss.
LO: Explain how tuberculosis(TB) is transmitted.
Q.5. What is the mode/method of transmission of TB?
 Droplet/ aerosol infection
(Mycobacterium tuberculosis).
 Undercooked meat (Mycobacterium bovis).
 Unpasteurized milk (Mycobacterium bovis).
Q.5. What do you understand by the term transmission cycle?
Refers to the way in which a pathogen passes from one host to
another resulting in the spread of disease.
LO: Explain how tuberculosis(TB) is transmitted.
Q.6. Describe the transmission of TB.
Occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes
into the air droplets containing the pathogen which
are then inhaled by an uninfected person.
LO: Explain how tuberculosis(TB) is transmitted
Describe the transmission of TB
May also occur when an uninfected person ingests
undercooked meat or drink unpasteurized milk
from a cow that is infected with the bacteria,
Mycobacterium bovis.
LO: Discuss the biological, social and economic factors
that need to be considered in the prevention and
control of tuberculosis(TB).
Q.7. Differentiate between the terms prevention and
control with reference to disease.
Prevention refers to measures that are applied to
prevent the occurrence of a disease.
Control refers to measures that are applied to prevent
transmission after the disease has occurred.
LO: Discuss the biological, social and economic factors
that need to be considered in the prevention and
control of tuberculosis(TB).
Q.8. Discuss the biological factors that need to be considered in
the prevention and control of tuberculosis.
Prevention
Control
1. Vaccination
1. Treatment with antibiotics
BCG effective but some
problems include:Poor response in malnourished
people, poor thermal stability
of vaccine and difficult to
achieve herd immunity.
2. Diagnosis –early enough.
2. Isolation
3. Contact tracing
4. Antibiotic resistance MDR-
TB/ XDR-TB
5. Immunodeficiency.
LO: Discuss the biological, social and economic factors
that need to be considered in the prevention and
control of tuberculosis(TB).
Q.9. Discuss the social factors that need to be considered in the
prevention and control of tuberculosis.
Prevention
Control
 Malnutrition.
 Access to healthcare treatment.
 Poor housing.
 Directly Observed Therapy.
 Overcrowding.
 Awareness of causes of illness.
 Education.
 Migration/travel.
LO: Discuss the biological, social and economic factors
that need to be considered in the prevention and
control of tuberculosis(TB).
Q.10. Discuss the economic factors that need to be considered
in the prevention and control of tuberculosis.
Prevention
 Availability of money to
governments to:-
Run vaccination
programmes.
ii. Educate the people on how
to reduce spread.
iii. Train professional personnel.
i.
Control
 Availability of money to buy
drugs and Diagnostic machines.
 Build health facilities.
CONCLUSION
Fill in the table below with the most appropriate answers.
Name of disease
Tuberculosis
Type of
causative
agent/pathogen
Name of causative
agent/pathogen
Mode of
transmission
Symptoms