Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide and is caused by an organism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is an infectious disease that usually infects the lungs, but can attack almost any part of the body. TB is an air borne disease and mostly spread by droplets. Smoking is not only a risk factor for TB infection but also accelerates TB infection. Smoking delays the treatment response in sputum positive tuberculosis cases. This increases the chances of transmission to others. Passive smoking is as harmful as active smoking and increases the risk of infection, both in children and adults. STATISTICS TB is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, with almost 2 million people dying per year. Not only national governments, but organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) are making significant efforts to end
TUBERCULOSIS By Dr. Gyanendra Agrawal, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Jaypee Hospital, Noida)
