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Article: How TB evades immune system detection
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- October 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Society for Advancement of Education Oct 2001. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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TUBERCULOSIS
Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest scourges of humans, infecting about one-third of the world's population, or 2,000,000,000 people, killing an estimated 8,000,000 individuals annually. While a vaccine exists for children, an effective one for adults remains elusive.
Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium that can be transmitted through the air. If it is left untreated, TB can cause the development of cavities in the lungs and other tissues, leading to a variety of symptoms, including severe cough (at times with blood), fever, and weight loss, and might become life-threatening. Growth of the bacteria in the lungs of infected persons is controlled ...