Tuberculosis (TB) | Basic TB Facts | Infectious Killer Disease

 


Tuberculosis (TB) is generally a serious infectious disease which affects the lungs. The germs which cause tuberculosis come under the type of bacteria.


Tuberculosis TB disease can be spread when a person infected with this disease coughs,sneezes or sings. These actions put tiny droplets with the germs that are present in the air. If the other person then breathes in the air droplets and then germs enter into the lungs.


Tuberculosis TB disease can spread easily where people gather in crowds or else people who live in crowded places.  People who are affected with HIV/AIDS or people with Weakened immune systems have a greater risk of catching TB than people with normal immune systems.


Antibiotics can treat tuberculosis disease. But some types of bacteria no longer respond to antibiotic treatments.


Three stages of TB are:


  • Primary infection.

  • Latent TB infection.

  • Active TB disease.


Causes 


Typically, Tb is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. Usually, the germs are spread through the air and it usually infect the lungs but it can also infect the other parts of the body. But Tb is infectious, it does not spread easily. You have to spend a lot of time catching the illness with someone who is contagious.


Signs and Symptoms of tuberculosis


People who are infected with inactive TB do not exhibit any symptoms. But they might have a positive skin reaction test or blood test.


People with active TB can show some symptoms which includes:

  • Bad cough which is lasting longer than two weeks

  • Pain in your chest

  • Coughing up blood or sputum called mucus

  • Fatigue or weakness.

  • Loss of appetite.

  • Weight loss.

  • Chills.

  • Fever.

  • Night sweats.


Tuberculosis Risk Factors


You can catch more likely to get Tb if:


  • Someone like a friend, co-worker, or family member who has active TB.

  • If you live in or travel to  other places where tb is common such as Russia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

  • If you are a part of a group in which Tuberculosis is spread, or you work or live with someone who is infected. This includes homeless people, people with HIV, or people in jail or prison and people who got injections into their veins.

  • You working in a place or live in a place like hospital or nursing home

  • You’re working as a healthcare provider for patients at high risk of TB.

  • You are a chain smoker.


Tuberculosis Transmission


Tuberculosis TB disease can be spread when a person infected with this disease coughs,sneezes or sings. These actions put tiny droplets with the germs that are present in the air. If the other person then breathes in the air droplets and then germs enter into the lungs.


Tb is not that easy to catch. Typically, you have to spend more time with someone who has a lot of bacteria in their lungs. You are more likely to catch the illness from your co-workers, friends, and family members.


Usually, Tb germs do not thrive on surfaces. You do not get the illness from shaking hands or by sharing food or drink with someone who has it.


Diagnosis


There are Two types of screening tests for tuberculosis:


  • TST - Mantoux tuberculin skin test

  • IGRA - blood test called interferon gamma release assay


For the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, your healthcare professional may inject a small amount of substance called PPD which means purified protein derivative under the skin of your forearm. After 2 to 3 days, you have to go to your healthcare professional who will look at the injection site.


For the IGRA, your provider will draw blood  and send it to the lab for testing.


Some other test to determine if the infection is active or of the lungs are infected which includes:


  • Lab tests on sputum and lung fluid.

  • Chest X-ray.

  • Computed tomography (CT) scans.


Treatment


Tuberculosis (TB) infection or disease that can be treated with following drugs:


  • Isoniazid (Hyzyd®).

  • Rifampin (Rifadin®).

  • Ethambutol (Myambutol®).

  • Pyrazinamide (Zinamide®).

  • Rifapentine (Priftin®).


You must take all the medicine your provider prescribes because not all bacteria will be killed. You have to take these drugs for as long as your provider told you to, some cases you have to follow for nine months.


Some types of Tb will become resistant to drugs. It is very important that your physician will use more than one drug to treat Tuberculosis. It's more important to finish your entire prescribed medications.


Complications/side effects of treatment


Some people experience the side effects from the medications which are used to treat Tuberculosis which includes:


  • Skin rashes and other reactions.

  • Nausea and stomach upset.

  • Itchy skin.

  • Yellow skin or eyes l jaundice.

  • Dark urine.


Talk to your physician about any side effects because some people may experience liver damage.


Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. What happens when you have TB?

Ans: The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.


Q2. Is TB a serious infection?

Ans: It is a serious condition, but can be cured with proper treatment.


Q3. What is TB disease?

Ans: Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.


Q4. Can a person fully recover from TB?

Ans: Most people with TB disease will need to take TB medicine for at least 6 months to be cured.


Q5. Is TB a communicable disease?

Ans: TB disease in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can spread to other people. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fruits to avoid during pregnancy

Image
  Pregnancy becomes the most precious period in a women’s life. Every woman dreams of such an awesome time to hold a healthy baby in their hands. There are a lot of restrictions at the time of pregnancy like travelling, physical activities, foods to eat and it also includes fruits. We all know fruits have a lot of health benefits and it helps for growth at the same time there are many fruits which should be avoided during the pregnancy. This is because some fruits may harm your fetus's growth. Consult your doctor and take full advice on what to eat and what not to eat during the pregnancy. You can also get a dietician consultation to know more about the foods which make your pregnancy period healthier. Drugcarts provides nutritionist consultation and other pregnancy care services at an offered price. Get an online consultation now! Although fruits are healthy, nutritious, and recommended but some fruits are advised not to take during pregnancy. It is a precaution if you ignor...
Read more

Understanding the Significance of Waist-to-Hip Ratio in Health Assessment

Image
  In the realm of health and fitness, Body Mass Index (BMI) has long been considered the gold standard for assessing one's overall health. However, a growing body of research suggests that another measurement - Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) - may offer a more nuanced and accurate reflection of an individual's health status. In this article, we delve into the reasons why WHR might be a superior health measurement compared to BMI. The Difference: WHR vs. BMI While BMI measures the proportion of body weight to height, WHR considers the distribution of body fat, specifically focusing on the ratio of fat stored around the waist to that around the hips. This differentiation is pivotal in understanding why WHR can provide a more comprehensive insight into an individual's health. 1. Abdominal Obesity and Health Risks One of the key advantages of WHR is its ability to highlight abdominal obesity. Research consistently associates higher WHR with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, ...
Read more

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA)| Fatal Genetic Disorder | Autosomal Recessive Disorder

Image
  Methylmalonic acidemia or MMA is generally a rare and fatal genetic disorder which affects metabolism and body systems that usually affects about 1 in 100,000 infants. Generally, these defects are caused by a genetic defect which prevents the body from processing proteins from foods you eat. People who have this health condition are unable to produce an enzyme which is needed to break down. This health condition causes a buildup of acids and other toxic substances in the blood, urine and other cells which includes brain cells other than creating proteins from your foods. Usually, this disease will mostly be diagnosed within a few months of life. But, how this toxic substance buildup will affect the body and it can vary drastically from one person to another person. For some people, this health condition can cause severe long term problems like seizures, strokes, growth problems, developmental delays and frequent severe illness. This metabolic defect leads to buildup of methylmalo...
Read more