Consumption mortality

“Consumption” is an historical term that was commonly used to describe tuberculosis (TB), particularly pulmonary tuberculosis. Today, tuberculosis is recognized as an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs, although it can also affect other parts of the body. With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, TB is preventable and curable.

Tuberculosis can become life-threatening when it is not diagnosed or treated appropriately. Our approach focuses on early recognition, accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, monitoring, and management of complications to help reduce the risk of severe disease and TB-related mortality.

Symptoms of pulmonary TB may include a persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, fever, night sweats, weakness, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Anyone experiencing persistent or concerning symptoms should seek medical assessment rather than delaying care.