HEALTH SERIES #4 (TUBERCULOSIS)

Today we are going to learn about a disease called TUBERCULOSIS, it's various signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis, prevention and finally management of the disease TUBERCULOSIS.*

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To begin with, we would first state what TUBERCULOSIS is. TUBERCULOSIS which is usually termed as TB is a kind of disease usually brought about by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) Tuberculosis most of the time affects the lungs.It also affects part of the body. Let's note in most cases, this infections do not have symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. The latent infection progress to active disease and when it's not treated, kills about half of those infected.

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In addition, the disease Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak or sneeze. Note that, individuals with the latent tuberculosis do not spread the disease. The active form of TUBERCULOSIS occurs more often in people with HIV/AIDS and those who smoke.

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Secondly, TUBERCULOSIS has various signs and symptoms and as stated above that TUBERCULOSIS can infect certain part of the body but it's most common in the lungs (known as pulmonary tuberculosis). The TB infection could either occur inside the lungs which is the place pulmonary or outside the lungs which is termed as extrapulmonary TB and these two may coexist. The general signs and symptoms of TUBERCULOSIS include:

• FEVER

• CHILLS

• NIGHT SWEATS

• LOSS OF APPETITE

• WEIGHT LOSS

• FATIGUE
  And also

• NAIL CLUBBING may also occur.
  
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  Furthermore, Tuberculosis as said earlier has the states: The Active state and Latent state. The Active Tuberculosis is diagnosed based on chest X-ray, as well as microscopic examination and culture of body fluids. And also, Latent TUBERCULOSIS is diagnosed based on TUBERCULIN SKIN TEST (TST) or blood test.
  
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  Finally, the prevention and control efforts rely primarily on the vaccination of children and detection and needed treatment of active cases. The only available vaccine is BACILLUS CALMETTE GUERIN (BCG). It is the most widely used vaccine world wide.
  
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  Tuberculosis can be managed by the use of ANTIBIOTIC to kill the bacteria. The two most commonly used antibiotics are ISONAZID and RIFAMPICIN. Treatment can take a long time, that is taking several months. NOTE THAT Latent tuberculosis treatment uses only one antibiotic while the Active Tuberculosis can be best treated with various combination of antibiotic to reduce the risk of the bacteria developing antibiotic resistance.
  
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  In conclusion, Tuberculosis is a very contagious disease so any time we are in public let's do well to close our mouth when coughing and also I would advice all parent to try their possible best to vaccinate their kid against this TB infection. Also check ups could help detect this early for quick treatment, so let's do well to go for check-ups at the hospital.
  
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  Thanks for reading hope we learnt something new today.

  STAY HEALTHY

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