Disease/condition and its effects on the body system Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria mainly attack the lungs, but the infection can spread to other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine and brain. Symptoms of tuberculosis are cough (possibly with blood and mucus), fatigue and shortness of breath, fever, and chest pain. If the infection is left untreated, the bacteria can destroy the infected organ tissue and leave permanently disabling scar tissue. Tuberculosis bacteria are carried in the air and enter the body through the airways and spread through coughing. Although the bacteria can spread easily, contracting the disease is quite difficult; to become infected you must remain in close proximity to the infected person for a long period of time. You are more likely to get infected from family or close friends than from a stranger, unless the person has a compromised immune system. StatisticsOne third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis, in 2012 approximately 9 million people fall ill with tuberculosis worldwide and there are 1.3 million tuberculosis-related deaths worldwide. Statistically countries with low economic environment have higher infection rate like India and other East Asian countries. People who have immigrated from those countries to the United States develop the disease within 2 to 3 years of immigrating. In 2012, 9,945 cases were reported in the United States (3.2 per 100,000 people). More men between the ages of 22 and 44 develop the disease than women. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is 10% to 30% more common among women and children. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among HIV positive people, it is estimated that 1 in 10 will be infected... according to the paper... millions of sufferers it is good to know that there are many organizations that helps spread awareness and to provide assistance to those affected. I have learned that the medicine will only help the patient if they want to help themselves and for those who seek help but do not comply with the regimen it will only make the bacteria worse and could spread the bacteria that are immune to the drugs. Resources for help and support for tuberculosis are easy to find, if the patient doesn't know where to start they can ask their doctor for information.Works CitedCDC. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htmNew Jersey Medical School. (n.d.). History of tuberculosis. Retrieved from http://globaltb.njms.rutgers.edu/tbhistory.htmWorld Health Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/tb/challenges/gender/en/