Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lung parenchyma, caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It is transmitted from a TB patient to another person through coughing, sneezing, laughing,singing and spitting. Thus, close contacts, especially household members, could be infected with TB.

Lungs are commonly affected but it could also be transmitted to other parts of the body, including the meninges, kidneys, bones and lymph nodes.

The commonly risk of having Tuberculosis are elderly, infants, low socio-economic status, crowded living conditions, disease that weakens the immune system like HIV, alcoholism and recent tubular infection (within last 2 years).

The primary stage of TB usually doesn't cause symptoms. When symptoms of TB occur, they may include, fatigue, fever unintentional weight loss, breathing difficulty, chest pain, wheezing...

Primary Symptoms:

coughing for more than 2 weeks

cough up of mucus and blood

excessive sweating at night

To rule out TB, significant Laboratory Exams and Imaging considerations must perform:

1.Tuberculin Skin Test (PPD Test)

• injecting a small amount (0.1 ml of 5 Tuberculin Units PPD ) of protein from tuberculosis bacteria between the derived layer of the skin (usually forearm). All tests should be read between 48 and 72 hours. If more than 72 hours has elapsed and there is not an easily palpable positive reaction, repeat the test on the other arm and read at 48 to 72 hours after the second administration.Measure the induration - not erythema. Measure and report results in millimeters of induration. All persons with positive reactions should be evaluated for preventive therapy, once TB disease has been ruled out.

Inserted Properly

Measure the Diameter

Positive Reaction: 18mm

2. Sputum Exams and Cultures

-is examined under a microscope to look for a tuberculosis bacteria and used to grow the bacteria in a culture.

Light source microscopy ZN staining Sputum

• The Gene Xpert is a new test for tuberculosis. It can find out if a person is infected with TB, and also if the TB bacterium of the person has resistance to one of the common TB drugs, Rifampicin.A sputum sample is collected from the patient with suspected TB. The sputum is mixed with the reagent that is provided with the assay, and a cartridge containing this mixture is placed in the GeneXpert machine. All processing from this point on is fully automated

3.Chest X-Ray

Note that the TB!

NOT hereditary.

NOT transmitted labor, watch, or dryness of the sweat on the back.

NOT spread of using of cutlery or glasses of an infected person.

NOT getting mosquito bites.

NOT spread of clothing or bedding of an infected person.

If you have these symptoms of TB and all the Laboratory and Chest result shows "POSITIVE"?

TB-DOTS Treatment or are aware the best way to treat TB. Need only 'at least 6 months of continuous treatment'. Taking the TB medicine every day to guide health service provider. It is important not to stop the treatment will not reach its drug resistant TB (DR-TB), because it would be much longer treatment (up to 24 months) or cause your death.

It is possible that you will experience side effects such as skin irritation, loss of appetite, numbness of the feet, and so on. It is temporary and not need to worry. It is important to let your health service provider your feelings to remedy this immediately.

If not completed correctly treatment, can be Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB to you. When reached the MDR-TB, will not be effective as the medicines you are currently taking.

The MDR is a severe form of TB because:

• more difficult to treat
• more expensive and need more drugs
• longer treatment, it takes 18-24 months.
• More often experience the side effects of drugs for MDR-TB as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, and so on. It is important that you correctly complete your current treatment.

Treatment Regimen:

• H, isoniazid; R, rifampin; Z, pyrazinamide; E, ethambutol; S, streptomycin; Q, a quinolone antibiotic; PAS, para-aminosalicylic acid.

• All drugs can be given daily or intermittently (three times weekly throughout or twice weekly after 2–8 weeks of daily therapy during the initial phase).

• Streptomycin can be used in place of ethambutol but is no longer considered to be a first-line drug by ATS/IDSA/CDC.

• The continuation phase should be extended to 7 months for patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis who remain sputum culture–positive after the initial phase of treatment.

• HIV-negative patients with noncavitary pulmonary tuberculosis who have negative sputum AFB smears after the initial phase of treatment can be given once-weekly rifapentine/isoniazid in the continuation phase.

---

Watch this TB Song I found on youtube, I saw it interesting and summarizes what TB is.

DISCLAIMER: The following story is purely fictional and does not depict any actual person or event. Any resemblance to non-fictional characters is purely coincidental.

Sources:

1.http://www.doh.gov.ph
2.http://www.ntp.doh.gov.ph/downloads/publications/NTP_MOP_5th_Edition.pdf
3.http://www.webmd.com/lung/understanding-tuberculosis-basics#2

STOP TB! TREAT TB! ACT NOW, BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to upvote and follow me.

'Till next Alert 101 feature disease..