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The Problem of Tuberculosis: Myths, Stigma, and Mimics

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Tuberculosis

Part of the book series: Integrated Science ((IS,volume 11))

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Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health problem. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). Although the most common organ infected are the lungs, it can infect all body tissues and organs. As per World Health Organization (WHO) data from 2018, M. tb infected ten million people and was the cause of mortality for about 1.5 million people worldwide. It is often termed the “disease of the poor,” and low-income nations bear a significant disease burden. The disease burden is greatly compounded by rampant misconceptions and significant stigma associated with this entity. These factors, in addition to TB’s notorious role as the “second great imitator”–for frequently mimicking or masquerading a variety of infectious and non-infectious medical conditions–may contribute to delays in care-seeking, diagnosis, management, and adherence to the therapeutic regimen. Herein, we dispel commonly held myths, discuss the stigma linked with the disease and its psychosocial consequences, and delve into the many mimics that complicate the evaluation of TB. Ultimately, our goal is that this discussion may enable individuals, communities, and systems to impart improved care for patients with TB worldwide.

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Common myths about tuberculosis (TB)

The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.

Mother Teresa

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Alisha Kamboj

  2. Department of Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Michael Lause

  3. Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Kamal Kamboj

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Correspondence to Kamal Kamboj .

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  1. Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Stockholm, Sweden

    Nima Rezaei

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Kamboj, A., Lause, M., Kamboj, K. (2023). The Problem of Tuberculosis: Myths, Stigma, and Mimics. In: Rezaei, N. (eds) Tuberculosis. Integrated Science, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15955-8_50

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