By Andrew Donlan | March 27
, 2023
CDC warning increase in U.S. tuberculosis cases
According to a March 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tuberculosis cases have increased for the second year in a row. During the early COVID-19 pandemic (2020), U.S. incidence of reported tuberculosis (TB) substantially declined. Incidence partially rebounded in 2021 but remained lower than incidence during prepandemic years. During 2022, reported TB incidence increased slightly. Among non-U.S.-born persons with TB, the proportion who had recently arrived in the United States increased. Higher TB incidence among American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander persons compared with other race and ethnicity groups represents an ongoing health disparity. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. Symptoms of TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as - a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer - pain in the chest - coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs) Other symptoms of TB disease are - weakness or fatigue - weight loss - no appetite - chills - fever - sweating at night Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected. People who have latent TB infection - do not feel sick, - do not have any symptoms, and - cannot spread TB to others.