What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affects the lungs and is called Pulmonary TB. It can also affect other organs in the body (such as the bones, lymph nodes, brain…) and is known as Extra-pulmonary TB.
How does it spread?
TB is spread from person to person through the air; a patient with active pulmonary TB releases the germs into the air through coughing, sneezing or spitting; a person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected (Latent TB infection).
A patient with Latent TB means he has been infected by TB bacteria but has not (yet) developed active TB disease and cannot transmit it.
People infected with TB bacteria have a 5 to 15% lifetime risk of falling ill with active TB. However, persons with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill.
Rarely, a person could get infected with TB after the consumption of unpasteurized milk from infected cows.
What are the common signs and symptoms of TB
TB bacteria most commonly affects the lungs, and can cause the following symptoms:
- Cough that lasts 2 weeks or longer
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Night Sweats
How is it treated?
Active, drug-susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard 6 months course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information and support to the patient. TB disease can be cured when medicines are taken properly. You should inform your doctor of any adverse event that might occur throughout the treatment course.
Drug resistance emerges when anti-TB medicines are used inappropriately (such as when a patient stops treatment prematurely) and can lead to the development of a dangerous, life threatening form of TB disease.
DOT-VOT
Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and Video Observed Treatment (VOT) improve treatment adherence by requiring a health worker or volunteer to observe patients taking each dose of the medicine on a daily basis.
TB is preventable and curable. Keep in mind that compliance to treatment is critical for cure and always follow the instructions of your healthcare provider.
How to prevent the spread of TB?
If you have tuberculosis, you should follow a number of preventive measures that help in reducing the transmission and spread of the disease especially to household members and close people.
- Do not spit on the ground
- Do not cough or sneeze in front of others without covering your mouth or nose
- Maintain good ventilation of the house
- Allow natural sunlight into the house