ANYONE CAN GET TUBERCULOSIS (TB); DON’T HIDE, ACT RIGHT

Reproduced from internet

Whenever I doubt patient of chronic cough if I inquire whether he had any history of TB, he gets reluctant to answer. Many doctors face this situation and find difficulty in getting the information. TB has always been a taboo in our society and accepting having the disease brings on resistance from society.  

Even after rigorous efforts of World Health Organization (WHO) that memorializes each year World TB Day on March 24 to raise awareness about the consequence of tuberculosis (TB) on health, poor response from masses is observed. Due to social stigma, delayed reporting, not realizing that anyone can get it or for any other reason treatment is delayed, its outcome can be worst to deadly. Certainly despite significant efforts over the last years this deadly disease continues to claim over 4500 lives a day.

Anyone Can Get TB

TB disease spreads from person to person through air. It is thought that it is a disease of poor economic. Nonetheless anyone can catch the disease; the most vulnerable population is those living in poor housing or sanitation, having poor nutrition.

You will appreciate that you can help society in a huge way after reading how disease spreads, who are at risk, what are its symptoms, what can be done for its prevention or in management. 

WHAT ARE TB CAUSES?

TB spreads from patient via respiratory droplets by cough, sneeze, or talk that expelled into air and inhaled by another person. It’s not spread through sharing food or drinks or shaking hands.

WHO ARE AT RISK?

Risk factors for TB include the following:

• person with weak immunity, as in HIV infection
• low socioeconomic status,
• crowded living conditions,
• people who inject illegal drugs
• elderly people

Pregnant woman and baby are at higher risk if disease is not treated on time.

WHAT ARE TB SYPMTOMS?

Lung (pulmonary TB) is the primary site of the bacteria and it can spread to other organs as well. Hence the symptoms vary according to the site of the bacteria affliction.

TB in the lungs may have symptoms such as

• a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• pain in the chest
• coughing up blood

Other symptoms of TB are

• low grade evening rise of temperature
• sweating at night
• unwarranted weight loss
• weakness or fatigue

Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

WHAT IS CONTAGIOUS PERIOD OF TB?

The patient can spread the bacteria from about two to 12 weeks. However a patient may remain contagious for a long time (as long as viable TB bacteria are present in his sputum) and till not been treated on appropriate therapy for several weeks.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO TB?

If you are exposed to someone with TB disease, you must contact doctor immediately. He will get your TB skin test (mantoux test), sputum test or blood test (QuantiFERON-TB Gold test).

 

Though it is considered contagious, yet it takes time to catch the disease. It is often spread among family members and co-workers on spending extensive time. Only individual with active disease can spread the disease to others. Individual having weak immunity develop disease soon, within weeks. On the other hand some with TB infection never develop disease.

If somebody has latent TB infection, he has higher risk to develop the disease in future. In that case doctor’s consultation is must to keep from developing the disease. Early intervention at this stage is best for fast and easy recovery. There are different modalities of treatment available for infection mentioned below.

HOW YOU CAN STOP THE SPREAD OF TB?

If you suspect TB, get investigations done and start treatment right away. Take medicines till your doctor says even if you feel better.

Be a good citizen and help prevent spreading the disease to others till you are no longer contagious:

• Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing. You can use tissue or handkerchief which must be thrown inside a bin after packing in plastic bag.
• If you have sneezed or coughed in hand, wash hand with a good soap or use alcohol-based sanitizer right away. 
• Avoid school, college, office or public places if possible till you are contagious.
• Keep your home and office area ventilated with fresh air.

WHAT ARE TREATMENTS MODALITIES AVAILABLE?

TB is considered deadly but it is curable with correct and extensive treatment. At times patient may not have symptoms but prompt action is required to prevent the disease from developing.

Generally doctors prescribe antibiotics to kill bacteria after testing. He will prescribe you three or four medications for 2 months followed by two medications for 4 to 7 months.

Latent TB Infection Treatment Regimens Drugs Duration Interval Minimum Doses Isoniazid 9 months Daily Twice weekly 270 76 Isoniazid 6 months Daily Twice weekly 180 52 Isoniazid and Rifapentine 3 months Once weekly 12 Rifampin 4 months Daily 120 Table reproduced and modified from the CDC; http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/treatment/default.htm

If you have "drug-resistant" TB, when antibiotics used to treat the disease don’t work, stronger medicines will be advised.

If you have any of the side effects; fever for 3 or more days, pain in lower abdomen, rashes, persistent nausea, vomiting, tingling or numbness of limbs, bleeding, call your doctor immediately.

HOW HOMEOPATHY CAN HELP YOU?

One of best examples of treated end-stage TB was international fame Clemens Von Boenninghausen, a physician, lawyer, Dutch and Prussian civil servant, agriculturalist, botanist, who was cured by homeopathy. That added a pioneer in the field of the homeopathy, who had not just promoted homeopathy but gave wonderful gift to its physician by significant writing book on repertory.

ABROTANUM Tuberculous peritonitis. Raw feeling. Impeded respiration. Dry cough. Appetite good, but emaciation progresses.

ARSENICUM IODATUM In the early stages of tuberculosis, even though there is an afternoon rise in temperature with night sweats. Profound prostration and debility, rapid, irritable pulse, recurring fever and sweats, emaciation; tendency to diarrhœa.

CALCAREA CARBONICUM Incipient phthisis. Tickling cough troublesome at night, dry and free expectoration in morning. Extreme dyspnoea. Night sweats, especially on head, neck and chest.

PHELLANDRIUM AQUATICUM Tuberculosis, affecting generally the middle lobes, offensive expectoration and cough in phthisis. Dyspnœa, and continuous cough, early in morning. Cough, with profuse and fetid expectoration; compels him to sit up.

PHOSPHORUS Tuberculosis in tall, rapidly-growing young people. Repeated hæmoptysis. Note: Do not give it too low or too frequently here, it may but hasten the destructive degeneration of tubercular masses.

TUBERCULINUM Of undoubted value in the treatment of incipient tuberculosis. Rapid emaciation. Hard, hacking cough, profuse sweating and loss of weight, rales all over chest. Deposits begin in apex of lung.

Table reproduced and modified from the: http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/a.htm

Disclaimer

The contents herein are for informational purposes only to understand health and treatment conditions in a better way. It should not be taken as the substitute of medical diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 

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