Cases of the Victorian disease rose by 13 per cent in just one year, prompting concerns
Health experts have warned that a cough lasting more than three weeks could be a sign of a deadly disease making a comeback in the UK. The most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases of 13 per cent in just one year.
In 2024 there were 5,480 cases of TB in England compared to 4,850 the year before. According to the UKHSA, this means a “previous downward trend has been reversed”.
TB is an infection caused by bacteria that mainly affects the lungs. However, it can affect any part of the body, including lymph nodes (glands), bones and the brain, causing meningitis.
If TB is not treated “promptly”, it can prove fatal. The UKHSA warns that the infection is spread when a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes.
It shared key symptoms to look for. These include:
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Drenching night sweats
- A high temperature
- A cough that lasts more than three weeks
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A cough caused by TB might also contain blood or mucus. The NHS adds that if TB has spread to another part of your body such as your glands (lymph nodes), bones or brain, you may also have other symptoms, including:
- Dark or cloudy urine
- Constipation
- Swollen joints or ankles
- A rash on the legs, face or other part of the body
- Tummy or pelvic pain
- A headache
- A stiff neck
- Being sick
- Feeling confused
- Swollen glands
- Body aches and pains
However, sometimes you can have TB in your body but have no symptoms, which is known as latent TB. The UKHSA pinpointed certain areas of the country that are worse affected.
In an update, it said: “TB remains most common in urban areas, including London. However, we have recently seen increases in parts of the country where TB incidence has historically been lower, such as the South West and North East.”
The NHS states that you should see a GP if:
- You often do not feel hungry
- You’re feeling tired or exhausted and you’re not sure why
- You’ve had a cough for more than three weeks
- You’ve spent a lot of time with someone who has TB and has symptoms (for example, you live with someone who has it)
- You keep losing weight without changing your diet or exercise routine
- You have a high temperature or night sweats that do not go away
A vaccine, called the BCG vaccine, is available on the NHS to prevent TB. It is mainly given to babies and young children at risk of TB.
TB is sometimes referred to as a “Victorian disease” due to the fact it was was the leading cause of death in Victorian England, killing around four million people between 1851 and 1910.