I'll talk about tuberculosis (TB).

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, which is a

bacterial infection. The bacteria typically cause lung damage, but they can also infect other parts
of the body. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, TB enters the air, and it can also spread
through contaminated food or water.

The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are disseminated via the air when a person with the disease
coughs, speaks, or sings. Coughing, fever, night sweats, and weight loss are common symptoms
of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis bacteria may live in the body without causing symptoms.

This is known as latent tuberculosis infection. People with latent tuberculosis do not feel unwell
and cannot transfer the disease to others. However, if the bacteria become active in the body
(usually as a result of a weakened immune system), the person will develop tuberculosis (TB),
and they will be able to spread the bacteria to others(World Health Organization,2023).

Epidemiological Considerations:
One of the primary infectious causes of adult mortality worldwide is still tuberculosis (TB).
TB is a major global health hazard, with an estimated 10 million infections and 1.5 million
deaths per year (Kirwan, 2006).
Although TB is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, it also affects people in
high-income countries, particularly at-risk groups like the homeless, prisoners, and HIV-positive
individuals. People with weakened immune systems, close contacts of TB patients, and those
who live in crowded or unhygienic conditions are among those whose TB risk is higher.
Additionally, TB is more prevalent in cities than in rural areas.

Public Health Interventions:

Several public health interventions can be used to control the spread of TB, including:
Screening and treatment: Identifying people with latent TB infection and treating them with
antibiotics can prevent the development of TB disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of TB
disease can also prevent transmission.

Infection control measures: In healthcare settings, measures such as isolation rooms, respiratory
protection for healthcare workers, and regular cleaning and disinfection can help prevent the
spread of TB (Kirwan,2006).

Public health messaging: Raising awareness about TB symptoms, transmission, and prevention
through public health messaging can encourage early diagnosis and treatment and promote
prevention measures.

Contact tracing: Identifying and testing close contacts of people with TB can help detect new
cases and prevent transmission (Kirwan,2006).

Epidemiological Frameworks:
One essential piece of information that would be helpful in developing public health
interventions for TB is understanding the local epidemiology of the disease. This would include
factors such as the incidence and prevalence of TB in the population, the risk factors for TB in
the local context, and the patterns of transmission of TB. The use of epidemiological frameworks
such as the descriptive, analytical, and experimental frameworks can help provide this
information and guide the development of effective interventions.
One essential piece of information that may be missing is the extent of drug-resistant TB in the
population. This is important because drug-resistant TB can be more difficult to treat and may
require more intensive interventions to control its spread (Kirwan,2006).

What I learned:
I learned that TB is a major global health concern that primarily affects low- and middle-income
countries but also affects vulnerable populations in high-income countries. I also learned that
early diagnosis and treatment of TB, as well as infection control measures, can help prevent the
spread of TB.

Preconceived ideas or notions:

Before this activity, I had some knowledge of TB, but I did not fully appreciate the scope of the
TB epidemic or the importance of public health interventions in controlling the spread of the
disease. This activity helped to reinforce the importance of understanding the epidemiology of a
disease in developing effective interventions. This reading also helped to dispel some of my
preconceived notions that TB was a disease of the past that had largely been eradicated, and
instead showed me the ongoing global burden of TB. Overall, this reading was a valuable
reminder of the importance of understanding the epidemiology of infectious diseases and the
various factors that contribute to their spread, in order to develop effective public health
interventions.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Basic tuberculosis facts.
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm#:~:text=Tuberculosis%20(TB)%20is%20caused
%20by,with%20TB%20bacteria%20becomes%20sick.

Kirwan, M. (2006). 2b - Epidemiology of diseases of public health significance. In Disease

Causation and Diagnostic. (Please read the following sections: Infectious Diseases, Cancers of
Public Health Significance, Specific Chronic Diseases, and Epidemiological Frameworks).
Accessed at: https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/disease-causation-
diagnostic/2b-epidemiology-diseases-phs

World Health Organization. (2023). Tuberculosis. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-

room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis