10/06/2017
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. Compared with other diseases caused by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis is the second biggest killer, globally.
*What causes tuberculosis?*
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium causes TB. It is spread through the air when a person with TB (whose lungs are affected) coughs, sneezes, spits, laughs, or talks.
TB is contagious, but it is not easy to catch. The chances of catching TB from someone you live or work with are much higher than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who have received appropriate treatment for at least 2 weeks are no longer contagious.
Since antibiotics began to be used to fight TB, some strains have become resistant to drugs. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) arises when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria, with the surviving bacteria developing resistance to that antibiotic and often others at the same time.
*Who is at risk?*
People with compromised immune systems are most at risk of developing active tuberculosis. HIV suppresses the immune system, making it harder for the body to control TB bacteria. People who are infected with both HIV and TB are around 20-30 percent more likely to develop active TB than those who do not have HIV.
To***co use has also been found to increase the risk of developing active TB. Over 20 percent of TB cases worldwide are related to smoking.
*Symptoms of tuberculosis*
While latent TB is symptomless, the symptoms of active TB include the following:
*Coughing, sometimes with mucus or blood
*Chills
*Fatigue
*Fever
*Loss of weight
*Loss of appetite
*Night sweats
*Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. When TB occurs outside of the lungs, the symptoms vary accordingly. Without treatment, TB can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream:
*TB infecting the bones can lead to spinal pain and joint destruction
*TB infecting the brain can cause meningitis
*TB infecting the liver and kidneys can impair their waste filtration functions and lead to blood in the urine
*TB infecting the heart can impair the heart's ability to pump blood, resulting in a condition called cardiac tamponade that can be fatal.
*Prevention of tuberculosis*
A few general measures can be taken to prevent the spread of active TB.
Avoiding other people by not going to school or work, or sleeping in the same room as someone, will help to minimize the risk of germs from reaching anyone else. Wearing a mask, covering the mouth, and ventilating rooms can also limit the spread of bacteria.
For further information on health issues and diagnosis please call/what's app on 08028469791 or 08167445926.
Beulah Medical Services.
