What you should know about tuberculosis

According to the United Nations, there’s been an increase in the number of tuberculosis cases in recent time, and it’s due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is currently named the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV/AIDS).

It is therefore important that you understand what tuberculosis is, its mode of transmission, symptoms and other relevant information.

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most commonly affects the lungs but can affect any organ in the body. It can form when bacteria spread through air droplets. Although tuberculosis can be fatal, it is often preventable and treatable.

Cause

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mode Of Transmission

Tuberculosis bacteria spread from person to person through the air. When a person with tuberculosis of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings, TB bacteria can enter the air. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

Symptoms

The symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) vary depending on where the bacteria are growing in the body. TB bacteria are most commonly found in the lungs (pulmonary TB). Lung tuberculosis can cause symptoms such as

• a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more?
• chest pain?
• coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)

Other signs of tuberculosis include:

• weakness or exhaustion
• no appetite for weight loss
• chills/fever
• night sweating

TB symptoms in other parts of the body vary depending on the area affected.

Who Is At Risk

WHO says that Tuberculosis mostly affects adults in their most productive years. However, all age groups are at risk. Over 80% of cases and deaths are in low- and middle-income countries.

Generally, people who are at high risk of developing tuberculosis fall into two categories:

• People who have recently been infected with tuberculosis bacteria
• People suffering from immune-suppressive diseases

Prevention

Infection from tuberculosis can be prevented by:

• getting a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible?
• staying away from other people until there is no longer a risk of infection
• wearing a mask, covering one's mouth, and ventilating rooms

Treatment

Tuberculosis is a treatable and curable disease. Drug-susceptible tuberculosis is treated with a standard 4-month or 6-month course of four antimicrobial drugs, with support from a health worker or trained treatment supporter. Adherence to treatment is more difficult without such assistance.

Health Insurance and Treatment

Treatment of tuberculosis can be quite expensive as one needs close services of doctors and other health workers. The treatment takes several months. It is therefore important to ensure that you’re getting quality treatment.

Health insurance helps you to access quality healthcare without spending much.

Visit www.rohealth.ng to learn more!!