Tuberculosis being one of the world most dangerous disease, affects the lungs, though it spreads to other parts of the body. The disease is caused by bacteria, mycobacterium tuberculosis, an airborne microorganism. This disease causes death of 1.6 million people as from 2016, this disease is curable, mostly at the early stage of infection.
Facts about causal organism
- they are in various forms
- borne by the air, meaning can be spread from person to person through the air
- can't be killed by the lung phagocytic system
electron microscopy of the bacteria strain
This bacteria was discovered by Robert koch as the causal organism for Tuberculosis.
Robert koch
Types of tuberculosis
- Latent tuberculosis
- Active tuberculosis
In latent tuberculosis, bacteria remain in the body, showing no symptoms but can become active
Active tuberculosis is contagious and can be transmitted
Transmission of disease
When people with active tuberculosis sneeze, cough, speak or spit, they give out thousands of strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis, which are very infectious. People who have close contact with infected people are at a very high rick of becoming infected. To prevent person to person spread of tuberculosis, is by isolating infected people and giving them anti-tuberculosis drugs, which will not make it contagious after weeks of treatments.
It takes three to four weeks (latent period) before infected person can transmit it.
Spreading of disease can be prevented by;
- wearing face mask
- avoiding public places with multitude of people
- ventilation
- cover nose when sneezing
- avoid careless spitting
- Vaccination
According to World Health Organization, prevention rely mostly of vaccination of infants with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and treatment of active Tuberculosis
DIAGNOSIS
Blood in sputum
Examination of lungs sound using stethoscope
Chest x-ray
Examination of lymph nodes for swelling
Skin test for latest tuberculosis
skin test may prove falsely negative in cases like lymphoma and active tuberculosis
Skin test using Mantoux tuberculin reagent
Symptoms of tuberculosis
Night sweats
Chills
Loss of appetite
Cough that prolong for three to four weeks
Blood in cough sputum
Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
Unintentional weight loss
RISK FACTORS
Patients of HIV/AIDS
since HIV suppresses body immune system, making it difficult for the body to handle the causal organism of Tuberculosis, mycobacterium tuberculosisThose in contact with infected people, like health workers
Environment
Some parts of the world have high rate of tuberculosis prevalence like; africa, caribbean islands, eastern europe, latin americaDrugs, like anti-bacteria drugs
ignorance/lack of awareness
MEDICATIONS
People with early signs of Tuberculosis should visit their doctors for diagnosis.
The cornerstone for treatment is taking the drug as prescribed by doctors. It is necessary to take antibiotics at least five to eight months
Drugs include
Isoniazid
Pyrazinamide
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Linezolid
Bedazuline
People with drug-resistant Tuberculosis can take a combinations of fluoroquinolones and injectable medications like amykaxin, kanamycin for close to 20 - 25 months
Completing treatment is very important, It might be tempting to stop medication when seeing improvement, because some of the bacteria that are alive may become resistant to drugs.
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