Tuberculosis has remained as an enemy of society of human for many years, it is not only a problem for the person who are suffering from it or their families but a problem for the entire world. As it is very fatal you should know how it occurs and how it can be prevented.

How Tuberculosis occurs

This disease occurs due to a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a chronic infectious disease that affects mainly lungs ( in 80% cases) but it can affect others parts of the body also, when it affect lungs it creates the formation of tubercles ( a round nodules, warty outgrowth ) in lungs.

In this disease generally a localized collection of cells usually produced in response to infectious process in the body.

T.B can also affects the animals is called Bovine tuberculosis.

Causes of tuberculosis

Through the droplets, when we talk, cough or sneeze very small size of droplets comes out of mouth in the atmosphere, in the same way when a person who has T.B talks then these droplets can infects to the person who comes in contact with these droplets.

By prolonged exposure with the person who has infected with T.B can also increases the chances of being infected.

Other risk factors which is responsible for the T.B infection are-:

Malnutrition, if a person is malnourished then he have higher chances of getting infection because malnourished person has low immunity that’s why the person who gets this infection are mostly malnourished.

Infant and children under five year of age because this age groups also have low immunity.

Some person who are already on Immuno – suppressive agents ( immuno-suppressive agents are that medicine which is taken to suppress the immune system, it is usually taken after the transplant of organ or in condition when the immune system of body works against body ) are having chances of getting this infection.

Poor health of the person, if the health of person is already poor then chances of getting other infection is high.

Some practices are also responsible which makes person vulnerable for getting this infection like smoking, alcohol consumption etc .

How tuberculosis affects lungs

When a person comes in contact with this bacteria by any mode, let’s say through droplet infection and inhales myobacterium bacilli.

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Then it transmit through airways to lungs or alveoli.

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Where it gets multiply and spread all over the lungs and transfer to lymph system and blood steam.

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Then the immune system of the body responds and phagocytes engulf many bacteria.

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T.B lymphocytes bacilli spreads in normal tissues and accumulate or collects infectious fluids in alveoli.

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That causes bronchopneumonia.

Symptoms of T.B

In pulmonary T.B person is free from symptoms in early stages of disease .

But in lateral stage some symptoms are starts to showing which you can fins out if you know about it like;

• Frequently cough with mucus production in sputum for three weeks or more.

• The person feels chest pain (it can be dull or tight)

• An unexplained weight loss seen in person with this infection.

• An irregular mensturation can also seen in women.

• Loss of appetite

• Low grade fever ( increase in evening temperature, sweating in night)

• Malaise and fatigue are experienced by person.

In acute phase of T.B the symptoms which can be seen:

• High fever

• Chills

• Marked production of cough

• Pain in chest (pleuritic pain)

Tuberculosis of other organs.

T.B can affects intestine , brain, bones, joints, skin, lymph glands or other tissues of the body, some general signs and symptoms of this stages are;

• Night sweating

• Fever

• Weight loss

• Specific sign in the affected organ can be seen like gland enlargement, swelling in the joints, pain in the affected organs etc.

What are the tuberculosis test that your doctor may recommend

• Chest X-ray that shows the presence of nodular patches.

• Sputum test shows the presence of acid fast bacilli in sputum.

• Mantoux test or the tuberculin test in which tuberculin injected intradermally in skin to check the sensitivity in skin against this medicine if the any sensitivity occurs in skin within 24 hours in that particular area where medicine is injected then it shows the presence of infection in person.

• Blood test, which shows increase amount of WBC ( white blood cells) or ESR ( erythrocytes sedimentation rate) which indicates presence of infection in body.

Management of T.B

The basic management of T.B which your doctor may recommends is through proper medicines , Proper diet and proper rest.

Proper use of antitubercular medicine finishes off the infectiousness of the disease within few weeks and the person can be alright quickly.

The medicines which are used for T.B, some are antibiotics and some are anti-microbial which are divided into two categories.

• Primary agents like

Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Streptomycin and Pyrazinamide.

• Secondary agents:

Capromycin, Kanamycin, PASA ( para-amino salicylic acid) or Cycloserine.

Prevention from tuberculosis

If you know the sign and symptoms of the T.B you can prevent it and control it timely.

Identify the disease as early as possible and timely contact to your doctor for early treatment.

T.B is infectious, but it may be cured or arrested if you take your medication as prescribed by your doctor timely.

Cover your nose and mouth when you coughing, laughing, or sneezing.

Wash you hands very carefully after any contact with body substances, mask, or soiled tissue, sputum which is highly contaminated and also while coughing use paper tissues and dispose of them properly.

Wear mask in appropriate conditions like when you suppose to around with people who has infection, or when it advised to wear mask. Make sure that the mask should well fitted and change them frequently.

During the contagious period the person should be kept in clean, airy room and outside room of that person mask should be used by other people.

Proper rest and diet are important in recovery that’s why along with medicines the diet should be taken properly.

Proper follow up is important for preventing from developing resistence against medicine, T.B patients often neglect medicines when they feel little better and develops resistence against medicines.

Treatment is may be necessary for long time, take your medicines exactly as prescribed and report all side effects to your doctor and do not stop medication for any reason without the doctor’s supervision.