How Do You Spell BACILLUS TUBERCULOSIS?

1. Bacillus tuberculosis, commonly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs. This pathogenic bacterium is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which also includes other species such as Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium africanum.

   Bacillus tuberculosis is a rod-shaped bacterium that is classified as an acid-fast bacterium due to its ability to retain stains even after exposure to acid. It is an obligate aerobe, meaning it requires oxygen to survive and reproduce. TB is primarily transmitted through droplets expelled by infected individuals through activities such as coughing, sneezing, or speaking.

   Once inhaled, the bacterium can reach the alveoli of the lungs, where it is engulfed by macrophages, a type of immune cell. However, instead of destroying the bacteria, they can multiply within the macrophages and spread throughout the body via the lymphatic and circulatory systems. The immune system can form granulomas, which are small clusters of immune cells that wall off the infection and prevent its further spread. However, the bacteria can remain dormant within these granulomas for years, and the disease can reactivate if the immune system weakens.

   Symptoms of tuberculosis include persistent cough, weight loss, fatigue, chest pain, and night sweats. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics, including isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol, over a period of several months to eradicate the infection.

2. Tubercle b., Koch's b., a non-motile, acid-fast organism, often branching, belonging probably to the higher bacteria, resembling actinomyces, and not truly a bacillus; the specific cause of tuberculosis, first accurately described by Robert Koch in 1882.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for BACILLUS TUBERCULOSIS

The etymology of the word "Bacillus tuberculosis" can be understood by breaking it down into its components:

1. Bacillus: The word "bacillus" originates from the Latin word "bacillum", which means "small staff" or "little rod". It refers to the shape of the bacterium, which is rod-shaped.

2. Tuberculosis: The word "tuberculosis" is derived from two components: "tuberculum" and "osis".

- "Tuberculum" comes from the Latin word "tuberculum", meaning "small swelling" or "little tumor". It refers to the characteristic granulomas or small nodules that form in the affected tissues during tuberculosis infection.

- "Osis" is a suffix that indicates a "condition" or "state".

Therefore, "tuberculosis" literally means "a condition/state characterized by small swellings or nodules".