With so many myths and doubts surrounding TB, we decided to break it down, so you may know the real facts about TB.
What causes TB
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In ancient Greece it was given the name ‘phthisis’ and more recently, was called consumption, as it lowers the body weight of a person.
Tuberculosis has emerged as a serious public health problem in developing countries where lack of sanitation and hygiene and also lack of awareness add to the problem. The spread of HIV has further compounded the problem.
Only about 10% of people who have the bacteria in their bodies will ever develop tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis has emerged as a serious public health problem in developing countries where lack of sanitation and hygiene and also lack of awareness add to the problem. The spread of HIV has further compounded the problem.
Only about 10% of people who have the bacteria in their bodies will ever develop tuberculosis.
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Primary TB and Reactivation of TB
When it first infects a person, it is known as primary tuberculosis, which generally produces no symptoms and may go away after some time.It may then come back and affect the upper lobe of the lungs, this is called reactivation TB.
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What parts of the body can TB affect?
Primary TB generally affects the lungs; hence it is also referred to as pulmonary TB. However, it can also affect the skin, lymph nodes or digestive tract. TB can spread via the blood to other organs mentioned below. It is then termed as extra-pulmonary TB.TB may spread to the lymph nodes, bones and joints for e.g. spine, eye, meninges (covering of the brain), peritoneum or lining of the abdominal cavity, intestine, stomach, liver, kidney, skin and the urinary and reproductive systems.
In case of lowered immunity, the disease spreads widely leading to formation of nodules throughout the body and is called miliary tuberculosis.
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Facts about drug therapy
Your physician may prescribe daily medicines or drugs that can be taken twice weekly. It is important to correctly follow the regimen even if you are feeling better. If doses are missed, the bacteria slowly develop resistance to the drugs (called drug resistance) and then different and more expensive drugs have to be prescribed._____________________________________________________________________________
Adverse drug reactions
Some people develop reactions to TB drugs like itching, change of skin colour, visual problems, tiredness and liver problems. In this case, the drug regimen can be altered._____________________________________________________________________________
New strains of TB
Due to neglect by the patient, new strains of tuberculosis bacteria (due to mutation) called multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extremely drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) have been documented. The newest form is totally drug resistant TB (TDR-TB), which is being found in Iran and India._____________________________________________________________________________
TB – a social stigma
TB is a disease frequently encountered in the low socio-economic group and hence called `barometer of social welfare.’ Lack of awareness and health education, malnutrition, population explosion and old traditions like early marriages and multiple children are social factors contributing to TB.Men have a better history of follow-up than women in the low socio-economic strata, as women are often neglected and ostracized from the community when the news spreads that they have contacted TB.
This, despite the fact that people are contagious only initially, before treatment has begun. Once treatment is instituted most people are non-contagious, so the ostracism is not justified.
Cases have come to light where women admitted to a hospital for treatment have been shunned by their families who have rejected them and left them to fend for themselves. It is a proven fact that apart from medicines and good nutrition, the love and care from the family is what motivates a woman to fight back. When rejected by them, she has more often than not given up.
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