Number one cause of death from infectious disease is none other than Tuberculosis (TB) , also known as Consumption in past due to Weight Loss.
BCG vaccine - Bacillus Calmette-Guerin that we were cramming in the school is for TB, Yo ...! Sweet Old Days ...!
So, what is TB and Why it is that Deadly? Who are at higher risk of falling victim to it?
This article will cover everything about TB and will also suggest some ways by which you can protect yourself from it.
Let's start learning...
What is Tuberculosis?
- It is a highly infectious bacterial disease caused by mainly by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
- According to World Health Organization (WHO), one - quarter of world's population is affected by this disease.
- TB generally affects people with low immunity - Malnutritious and those affected by HIV .
- But, no need to worry, it is completely curable, if one follows specific guideline and treatment.
Symptoms Of active TB: -
- Persistent Cough for more than 3 weeks
- Chest pain
- Swelling in the Neck
- Night Sweat
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight Loss
Specific Symptoms:
Mainly TB will affect the lung - Pulmonary TB ;but in 15 - 20 % instances, other parts of the body too - Extra-pulmonary TB. That can affect...
- Brain ( TB meningitis)
- Heart (TB carditis)
- Lymphnodes (Scrofula)
- Spine (Pott's disease)
- Joints
- Bones
Types of TB: -
- Active TB infection (Active TB disease) - When patient is showing symptoms of it and can spread the disease to those in contact with him.
- Inactive or latent TB (Latent TB infection) - Person is not showing any symptoms of disease, but could turn to active patient later in his life.
High Risk People For TB: -
- Those who are living in Low or Middle income countries - India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh are at highest risk of developing the disease.
- However, according to Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), there were around 10,000 cases of TB here in United States in 2018.
- Also, those who are smoking, chewing tobacco or consuming more Alcohol have higher risk of developing active TB.
- Other people are those, who have weakened immune system due to
- Medications of organ transplantation
- HIV
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Malnourishment
- End stage renal disease
Spread of TB: -
- Like most communicable diseases, TB bacteria spreads through air. When the person infected with TB coughs, sneezes, speaks or does anything that brings the bacteria from lungs out , TB bacteria will get into the air.
- If someone healthy goes there and inhales it, he will get infected with the disease. Apart from that those in close contact with TB patient will also get infected.
- Will it be Active or Latent form of disease will depend on the immunity of the person. Those who are healthy will get latent infection and people who are sick will show symptoms - Active TB.
Diagnosis of TB: -
----> When one goes to Doctor for getting himself tested for TB, he will first ask you to go for Tuberculin Skin Test - PPD test.
In this, 0.1 millimeter of Tuberculin protein will be injected under the top layer of the forearm skin.
If after 2-3 days, there will be no reaction, the patient is TB negative; but , any lesion more than 15 mm is considered as TB positive.
Remember, the test is not accurate; so , those who test positive for this will be referred for blood test.
Those who have taken BCG vaccine recently will also test positive for it despite of no disease.
----> As of now, Quantiferon and T - spot are two tests approved here in United States for TB testing. This test will check the presence of TB bacteria in blood.
Blood test will not be able to confirm whether the patient has active TB or Latent; so, who test positive for it will be finally sent for Chest X- ray.
----> In chest x-ray, Spots - Cavitation will be seen in the lung because our body will isolate TB bacteria from the normal body tissues.
If your chest x-ray is negative, you will be negative for Active TB, but not Latent TB.
Resistance to TB bacteria: -
- When the patient stops taking TB medicines because his symptoms subsided ;but Doctor did not advised so, the bacteria in his body will keep on growing ; not up to the stage of causing disease.
- Those grown bacteria will be resistant to further treatment to TB.
- These type of TB is called MDR - TB(Multi Drug Resistant TB) or XDR - TB (Extensively Drug Resistance TB). These are very hard to treat.
Also Know: -
DOTs - Directly Observed Treatment under supervision.
Health care provider will go to the patient and will make him swallow drugs in front of him.
Otherwise some patients do not take medicine and drug resistant TB cases will increase in the country.
These type of patient behavior is observed due to Illiteracy or Inaccessibility to Doctors.
TB Treatment: -
- Treatment of TB will last for 6 to 9 months ; however, Doctor can change the duration of the treatment as per your age, overall health, social status and country of residence.
- 1st line drugs for TB are those given to first time TB patients; but , if the patient of second time TB, MDR or XDR TB comes, other medicines used for his treatment is termed as second line drugs.
The period of 6-9 months for which medicines have to be taken, is divided into 2 phases.
How to protect yourself from TB: -
1). Always cover your nose and mouth , when someone sneezes or cough.
2).Restrict travel to developing countries, if you are immuno-compromised.
3).Talk to Doctor, if you need to take prophylactic medicine or not.
That was it about Tuberculosis...!
Even if you need to know more, Leave a comment below...