Still on Tuberculosis; you can be Permanently treated

Hello Stemians✋

It's another session on TUBERCULOSIS...

Frommy previous posts on Tuberculosis, i have done justice to explain in details on the meaning, risks and the need for everyone to participate in the TB awareness agenda.

If by anyway you missed those post and interested to read through, please refer to my blog @oluwambe and read on the following topics:

https://steemit.com/health/@oluwambe/tuberculosis-a-public-health-concern

https://steemit.com/health/@oluwambe/alarming-transmission-of-tuberculosis

https://steemit.com/health/@oluwambe/still-on-tuberculosis-anyone-can-get-infected

Kindly take your time to read through, i assure you that you will learn a lot, especially on this subject matter, " TUBERCULOSIS ". Thank you for reading.

On today's subject matter, PLEASE take your time to read through.

In our society, especially in the scientific world, there are still quite a number of diseases that research is still in progress to find a cure for; However, there had been major breakthrough for TUBERCULOSIS; and TB positive patient had since then been successfully treated

Now, let me continue by sharing with you on the management of this deadly disease called Tuberculosis.

Ohhh, before that, please, let me quickly brief you on the clinical presentations and identification of TB

Dear reader, if you notice anyone with these symptoms, he or she is likely to have been infected with TB. They are:

Coughing for 2 weeks or more
Progressive weight loss
Excessive night sweat
Fever
Hemoptysis
Swelling in neck, vertebral, abdomen, meninges, bone, lymph nodes etc

IDENTIFICATION OF PRESUMPTIVE TB CASES

All persons with otherwise unexplained productive cough lasting two weeks or more should be evaluated for tuberculosis

All people living with HIV and coughing for any duration

All symptomatic contact of confirmed TB case (DS TB/DRTB)

source
FOR CHILDREN, also look for:

Positive History of TB symptoms in a close household contact (usually adult) in the last 2 years

Poor weight gain or unexplained weight loss or Failure to thrive

Features of hypersensitivity to the tubercle bacilli e.g. red eye associated with white speck(s) at the border of the cornea

Reduced playfulness/fatigue, Behavioral changes (irritability, confusion or agitation)

History of death attributable to TB in any member of the patient immediate family is also suggestive with corroborative historical data.

PLEASE NOTE that people with these symptoms are called presumptive cases and can only be confirmed to have TB when they go for a laboratory test.

A presumptive(suspect) case is someone with any of the cardinal symptoms of TB esp cough 2weeks or more or of any duration in PLHIV

Now, let me move on to the management of TB cases. By management, i mean treatment...

Ohhhhh, please, don't you think i should talk about the diagnosis of TB before talking about treatment, okay, let me do that first

After the identification of a presumptive TB case, please note the History of the patient.
You need to know the following information:

History of positive contact with an adult with TB symptoms in the last 2years: Of all, a positive history of TB symptoms in a close household contact remains the single most important symptom for TB diagnosis in children

History of previous treatment

History of swelling

History of antibiotic use

History of poor weight gain in children, weight loss in adult

Now, let me write on the various INVESTIGATORY TEST of TB cases

1. LABORATORY TESTS
   AFB microscopy (abt 10,000 TB bacilli/ ml of sputum), 48hrs
   Molecular Rapid test – GeneXpert (abt 130 bacilli/ml of sputum) 2hrs, LPA- 8-24hrs
   Culture (10-100 bacilli / ml of sputum) 4-6wks

1. Gene expert test

2. Xpert MTB/RIF tests

3. Other investigations include
   HTS
   Mantoux
   Chest Xray
   USS
   CT Scan
   Histology
   CSF chemistry

PLEASE NOTE THAT:

Genexpert is not a screening test. It is Diagnostic for a presumptive case to make diagnosis of DSTB or MRTB(MTB detected or Rif detected).

Xpert MTB/RIF tests is also for diagnosis of Extra-Pulmonary TB using body fluids- CSF, Pleural, Peritoneal, Gastric Aspirate, etc)

AFB microscopy is reported as smear positive if any of the 2 sputum sample is positive or smear negative if both sputum samples are without the bacilli

C-Xray is reported as suggestive & document attached to patient treatment card.

I am glad you are reading throught this, however, i understand your perseverance to understand the messages i ampassing across especially if you are not in this field...
This is why i have to pause here for now and allow you to ruminate on the ones you've read.

Trust me, i will post the concluding part in two days time.

Thank you for taking your time to read through.

But please, do not forget this:

Thank you for reading.

If you find this article interesting, kindly comment, upvote and follow @oluwambe