'Disgusting' is not only why you should stop spitting in public. It's also infectious. Doctors describe it is one of the most unhygienic human habits that spreads air-borne diseases like tuberculosis (TB).In 2011, after a study by P D Hinduja Hospital revealed the totally drug resistant (TDR) TB cases and the related risk, the state TB officer recommended that the BMC ask clean-up marshals to focus more on curbing the insanitary practice.Dr Mini Khetrapal, Mumbai TB officer, said, "To fight TB, we have a health education programme for patients. TB bacteria stay alive in the patient's spit for a long time. So we ask them to follow a hygienic routine, the thrust of which is how we should cover our mouth while coughing, not spit openly etc. The anti-spitting bill will be a boon for preventing many diseases."The most common harmful bacteria in a sputum culture are those that can cause bronchitis or pneumonia apart from tuberculosis. According to doctors, phlegm of an infected patient can spread air-borne respiratory diseases such as TB, pneumonia and influenza (including swine flu).
Dr Om Shrivastav, director of the department of infectious diseases at Jaslok Hospital, said, "Many countries enforce social discipline like 'no spitting' and it is strictly followed. If we bring a little discipline among ourselves, we will go a long way in bringing down TB and other diseases."
Dr Ami Varaiya, consultant microbiologist and infection control officer at Hinduja Healthcare, Khar, said, "While spitting, one brings the sputum out of the oral cavity. This might also bring out some viruses which can spread disease. The anti-spitting bill will reduce the burden of air-borne diseases like swine flu, TB, winter ailments, MERS, SARS etc. Most of the viruses and bacteria can stay alive in the sputum for hours, even days."
Pulmonary TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). You can contact it by breathing in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person. This is called primary TB.
The infection may stay dormant for years, but can reactivate in some cases.
Most people who develop TB symptoms first became infected in the past. In some cases, the disease may become active within weeks after the primary infection.
Infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems (due to AIDS, chemotherapy, diabetes, or some medication) are at a higher risk of active TB
