TUBERCULOSIS

DEFINITION: Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by bacterium mycobacterium tuberculosis which usually attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body including the bone, joints and brain. It is classified into two: pulmonary tuberculosis affecting the lungs and non pulmonary tuberculosis affecting the other organs of the body i.e. the bones of the joints and brain.

In 2001, approximately 2 million people worldwide died of tuberculosis.

HOW IS TB SPREAD

TB is spread from one person to another through the air often when a person with the disease coughs or sneezes. TB spreads rapidly especially in areas where people are living in crowded conditions, have poor access to health care and are malnourished. A variety of TB called bovine tuberculosis is transmitted by consuming raw milk from infected cattle.

People of all ages can contact tuberculosis, but the risk of developing TB is highest in children younger than 3 years old and in older people. People with TB infection who have weakened immune systems (e.g. people with HIV/AIDS) are more likely to develop the disease.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

The period from infection to development of the first symptoms (i.e. incubation period) is usually four to 12 weeks, but the infection may persist for months or even years before the disease develop.  A person with the disease can infect others for several weeks after he or she begins treatment. The symptoms of TB include general weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.

In TB of the lungs called pulmonary tuberculosis, the symptoms include persistent cough, coughing up of blood, and chest pain. In young children, however, the only sign of pulmonary TB may be stunted growth or failure to thrive. Other symptoms depend on the part of the body that is affected. For example, in tuberculosis of the bones and joints there may be swelling, pain and crippling effects on the hips, knees or spine.

COMPLICATION OF TB

TB can present in many ways and may be very difficult to diagnose. Untreated pulmonary TB results in debility and death. This may be more rapid in persons infected with HIV/AIDS.

TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS

People with TB must complete a course of therapy, which usually includes taking two or more anti-tuberculosis drugs for at least six month. This is often called DoTs for (directly observed treatment schedule). Unfortunately, some people fail to take the medication as prescribed or to complete their course of therapy. Some may be given ineffective treatment. This can lead to multi drug resistant TB which can be extremely dangerous if it spreads to other people. When people who have developed TB fail to complete standard treatment regimens or are given the wrong treatment regimen, they may remain infectious.

CONTROL AND PREVENTION

1- Avoid overcrowding

2- Infected articles should be sterilized

3- Immunization of infants with Bacillus Calmette Guerin Vaccine (BCG)