WHAT IS TB,SYMPTOMS OF TB, HOW IS IT SPREAD AND IS IT CURABLE?

 

Today let us talk about TB.

So what is TB? It is a disease caused by germs that are spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing bacteria into the air to another person. It is a contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, or brain except for the nails, hair and teeth.

So What Are the Common Symptoms of TB

The general symptoms of TB disease include 

1. Feelings of sickness or weakness

2. Unintended weight loss

3. Fever

4. Drenching night sweats

The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include 

1. Persistent Cough of any duration 

2. Chest pain

3. Coughing up of blood. 

Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

HOW IS TB SPREAD?

TB is primarily spread through the air when an infected person with active tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air. These droplets can remain suspended in the air for several hours depending on the environment and can be inhaled by others who are in close proximity to the infected person. It is important to understand that not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick or contagious. There are two main forms of TB infection:

1. Latent TB infection: In this condition, people have TB bacteria in their bodies, but their immune system keeps the bacteria in check, preventing them from causing active disease. Latent TB is not contagious, and people with this form of TB cannot spread the infection to others.

2. Active TB disease: When the immune system is unable to control the bacteria, active TB disease develops. People with active TB in their lungs or throat can spread the bacteria to others through the airborne route. Close and prolonged contact with an infected individual, such as living in the same household or working together, increases the risk of transmission.

It's important to note that TB is not easily spread through casual contact such as shaking hands, sharing utensils, or touching surfaces. It requires prolonged and close contact with an infected person who has active TB in order for transmission to occur. Additionally, some individuals, such as those with compromised immune systems, are at a higher risk of developing active TB if they are infected with the bacteria.

IS TB CURABLE? 

Yes TB disease is curable. TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat. if there is not taken under the doctor's prescription the local health worker might be forced to be meeting regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy (DOT).DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time and avoid TB disease mutating/resistant to the first-line regimen which is more complex and has a lot of side effects depending on every patient.

keep it here and let's get to learn what is drug-resistant TB, what types of DRTB we have, how it's acquired, what are the regimen, what are side effects and how long it takes to cure DRTB, and where to get help when you have it.