Each year on 24 March, the world marks World Tuberculosis Day to raise awareness about the health, economic and social impacts of tuberculosis.

The date marks the day Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). This changed history, opening up pathways towards diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

So what is it? TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB can damage the lungs with complications including pneumothorax, respiratory distress, or lung failure, as well as other parts of the body such as the brain, bones and joints, lymph nodes, abdomen and kidneys.

Physiotherapy plays a role in improving respiratory function, reducing fatigue, and addressing physical deconditioning from TB. Use the Advanced Search on PEDro to read up on the TB-related physiotherapy research: https://search.pedro.org.au/advanced-search