Dark = high;
Medium = moderate;
Light = none
or low.
Source: Bradshaw
Foundation. |
Resources
• Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Tuberculosis
(CDC) |
|
Advice on Avoiding
Tuberculosis
Do not spend long periods of time in stuffy, enclosed rooms
with anyone known to have active TB until that person has
been treated for at least two weeks. Use protective measures,
such as proper respirators, if you work in a place where
people with untreated TB are cared for. Discuss with your
health professional how to prevent TB from spreading to
others if you live with someone who has active TB.
Help and encourage the person with TB to follow the treatment.
Check out with your doctor for free treatments & health-care
provided for the refugees by Federal Health authorities
like the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). |
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria,
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis; that usually affects the
lungs (Pulmonary TB), but can spread to other parts of the body
(Extra-Pulmonary TB). It is generally airborne and spreads via
droplet infection, hence very contagious! Extrapulmonary TB’s
on the on the other side, don’t spread easily to others.
Tuberculosis is classified into Latent or Active Types.
In latent TB, although the TB-causing bacteria are in your body,
you cannot spread the infection to others. However, you are at
risk for developing active TB if your immune system becomes weakened.
In active TB, however, the infection is spreading in your body
and you can spread the disease to others too.
Symptoms
A person is generally asymptomatic while in latent stage, and
all the following symptoms starts surfacing when the immune system
weakens and the disease becomes active. Symptoms of Active TB
may include:
- A persistent cough that brings up thick, dirty, and sometimes
bloody sputum from the lungs (not from the gums or mouth !).
- Fatigue and Gradual weight loss.
- Night sweats and Evening rise in Temperature.
- Shortness of breath and occasional chest pain that may be
worse when breathing in.
- Rapid heartbeat.
Early Detection
Since TB can be spread to others around you, cases must be
reported to the local or state Health Departments. All major
health authorities — like the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, recommend Tuberculin
skin testing only for people who have a high risk of getting
TB.
The CDC recommends TB testing for people who:
- Have a HIV or another condition that puts them at risk for
TB.
- Live with a person who has active TB disease, which can be
spread to others.
- Inject illegal drugs. (Intravenous needle users)
- Were born in parts of the world where tuberculosis is common,
such as Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe,
and Russia.
- Live or work in nursing homes, homeless shelters, migrant
farm camps, prisons, or jails.
 |
|
For any health-related
issues and medical reference, please get in touch with us.You
can email us at migyul@yahoo.com |
|
CONSULT
YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you have:
SYMPTOMS (SUCH AS A PERSISTENT COUGH WITH FEVER, FATIGUE,
AND WEIGHT LOSS) THAT COULD BE CAUSED BY TB, AND YOU THINK
YOU MAY BE AT RISK FOR GETTING TB.
BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS UNTREATED ACTIVE
TB, WHICH CAN BE SPREAD
TO OTHERS, OR YOU HAVE HAD LENGTHY CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE
YOU THINK HAS UNTREATED ACTIVE TB.
BLURRED VISION OR COLOR BLINDNESS AND ARE TAKING ETHAMBUTOL
DRUGS FOR TB. OR ANY OTHER NEW SYMPTOMS AFTER BEING PUT
ON ANTITUBERCULAR DRUGS.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF TB (A PERSISTENT COUGH WITH FEVER,
FATIGUE, AND WEIGHT LOSS) OR IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO
SOMEONE WITH ACTIVE TB; WATCHFUL WAITING IS NOT AT ALL
APPROPRIATE. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE BEING TOO LATE! |
Tests during TB treatment
Its very important to do sputum tests at least once a month
to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment by prescribed
drugs. A chest X-ray may be done at the end of treatment to
use as a comparison in the future. So one should preserve the
old X-rays, if any. Other tests may also be carried out to ascertain
the TB medications are not causing damage to other parts of
the body since the drugs do possess its own side effects like
liver damage, diminution of eye sight, and hearing senses, etc.
Treatment
Generally a combination of four antibiotics to treat active
TB, whether it occurs in the lungs or elsewhere. Medications
for active TB must be taken for a minimum of 6 months; to be
revaluated after that. Almost all people who take their medications
piously as prescribed are cured. Latent TB usually is treated
with one antibiotic for 9 months. This prevents the infection
from developing into active disease and reduces the risk of
complications. If doses of the medications are missed or the
treatment is not completed, treatment will be extended or must
be started all over again. Not completing the treatment can
cause the infection to worsen or may lead to the development
of an antibioticresistant infection that becomes much harder
to treat. If left untreated, active TB can damage the lungs
or other organs and can lead to death !
Prevention is better than cure
Usually, treatment with one antibiotic for about 9 months can
prevent a latent TB infection from developing into active TB.
Treatment is recommended for anyone who has a positive skin and
is especially important for people who:
- Are known to or are likely to be infected with HIV.
- Have close contact with a person who has active TB.
- Have a chest X-ray that may suggest a TB infection, and they
have not had a complete course of treatment.
- Inject illegal drugs.
- Have a medical condition or take medications that cause them
to have a weakened immune system..
- Have had a tuberculin skin test within the past 2 years that
was negative but now have a positive test.
Home treatment includes
Eating a balanced diet to provide your body with the nutrients
that you need to fight the infection. If you need help, ask
to talk with a registered dietitian. Covering your mouth when
you sneeze or cough. Until you have been on antibiotics for
about two weeks, you can easily spread the disease to others.
What you can do?
Home treatment for tuberculosis (TB) focuses on taking the prescribed
medications correctly to
reduce the risk of developing multidrug resistant. Keep all your
appointments, take your medications as prescribed, and report
any side effects of the medications, especially vision problems.
If you plan to move to other places during the time that you are
being treated, let your health professional know so that arrangements
can be made for you to continue the treatment unhindered.
