Last Updated on February 20, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta
The infectious disease tuberculosis is one that can be fatal on a global scale (TB). TB can cause long-term lung damage, unlike other respiratory infections. As a result, TB may change from an infectious disease that is curable into a chronic condition that can cause morbidity in patients who have had a successful course of treatment. This is because the disease has a high risk of being contagious. This article, therefore, focuses on how TB spreads, including the possibility of it spreading through kissing, who is most susceptible to getting the illness, and its preventative measures.
Does kissing have the potential to spread tuberculosis?
No, not really. It is not possible to spread TB by giving someone a kiss, hug, or handshake. It also doesn’t spread by sharing items like toilet paper, towels, or clothing. This is due to the airborne transmission of TB. For the infection to spread from one person to another, a person must inhale the bacteria-containing droplets. This means that you are at risk for infection if you spend a lot of time around someone who has TB disease and they cough, sneeze, or even talk close to your face.
However, if you spend a long period of time in close proximity to someone who has TB, the risk of contracting it increases from breathing the contaminated air. As a result, those who live and work with TB patients are much more likely to contract the disease than members of the general public who only occasionally come into contact with TB patients.
Who is more susceptible to contracting tuberculosis?
It is not always necessary to be exposed to the TB bacteria in order to become infected. The body might be able to repel it. Your immune system’s vulnerability is one of the main factors that increases your risk of contracting an infection after exposure. Having an HIV diagnosis, having cancer, going through cancer treatment, or taking certain medications may increase your risk of developing TB.
If you travel to or live in areas where tuberculosis is endemic or where there are more cases of the disease, your risk may increase. Additionally, smoking and drug abuse increase the risk of TB when working in the healthcare industry.
What measures can be taken to avoid or minimize the spread of TB?
One way to lower the risk is to limit your contact with people who have active TB, but this isn’t always feasible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise travelers to avoid crowds whenever possible when visiting regions where tuberculosis is highly prevalent. In addition, the CDC also advises the use of the TB vaccine known as the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.
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