Do you have a cough that just refuses to go away and flecks of blood in the phlegm that you cough up? If so you should be aware that these might be symptoms of tuberculosis and you would be well advised to visit your doctor for a check up.
Most of us have heard of tuberculosis or TB. What is less well known is that if it is not treated TB is a very dangerous disease, and can even be deadly. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the planet's greatest killer. It is also a very common illness in South Africa and the leading natural cause of death in this country.
For this reason all South Africans should be aware of the signs and symptoms of TB and be sure to visit their clinic or healthcare provider if they become concerned that they may have contracted the disease. It should be kept in mind that TB can be successfully treated and completely cured with antibiotics. However, the longer TB, which is a type of bacterium, is left untreated the more damage it can do to the body. TB can affect different parts of the body, but most commonly it attacks and damages the lungs.
Take control of your health
At the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) we encourage our members to take control of their health and deal with any potential health problems, such as TB before they become a major issue. By adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking precautions against catching TB, we can all go a long way to protecting ourselves from this disease. March celebrates TB Awareness Month and this article forms part of the GEMS commitment to providing our members with information and support in order to help them live a healthy life.
TB spreads from person to person
TB is an infectious disease that may be passed on from person-to-person through coughs, sneezes, and spitting. People nearby may inhale the TB bacteria and become infected.
Many people catch the germ but it never develops into the active form of the illness because their immune systems keep it in check. It is only when their immune system is weakened, such as when they develop another medical condition (i.e. AIDS or diabetes) that the disease becomes active. TB is thought to infect as much as a third of the entire world's population but only between five and ten percent of people will actually develop the active form of the disease.
Treatment works
TB is highly infectious in individuals who have the active form of the disease and if it is not treated it can be passed on to our families and those near to us. Most people with TB will stop spreading the illness just two weeks after they start taking medicine for it. The early treatment of TB helps to ensure that we not only stay healthy but also protect our loved ones from catching this disease.
Anyone can develop TB
It should be noted that anyone can catch TB although some people are at greater risk of developing the active form of the disease than others and should be particularly careful. Individuals who should take extra care include those who:
It is not the common cold
Many people with active TB make the mistake of thinking they have nothing but a common cold or cough, and they leave it untreated in the belief that it will go away in time. In fact if you have a cough and are experiencing night sweats for more than three weeks you should visit your healthcare professional. These may be signs that you have TB. Bronchitis and pneumonia are some other illnesses that can have very similar symptoms to tuberculosis.
TB can express itself in different ways but there are some symptoms that are common in most people. The following could be signs that you have TB:
Do not stop the treatment
There are a variety of medicines used to treat a person with active TB. It should not be forgotten that these treatments need to be taken for a minimum period of six months to make sure they kill all the TB bacteria.
More than 95 percent of people who are properly treated for TB and who take their medicine as instructed by the doctor or healthcare practitioner are cured. The best thing you can do to support a family member or friend with TB is to make sure that they take their medication for the whole six months and that they don't stop taking the treatment when they start feeling better or because they don't like it.
By not finishing your course of TB medication you are at risk of developing multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) - a strain of TB bacteria that has become resistant to TB drugs that is much more difficult to treat and can be fatal. MDR-TB has to be treated with special, more powerful medications that have to be taken for a much longer period of time than ordinary TB treatments and have worse side-effects.
Protecting your family
There are also a few practical steps you can take to protect you from catching or passing on the disease. For example if you keep your home well ventilated by keeping windows open and letting plenty of air through, you can prevent the TB germs from remaining in the air and infecting people.
If you know anyone who is in the habit of spitting encourage them to stop this now as it can propel TB bacteria into the air allowing them to be breathed on by other people. If you cough or sneeze always make sure you do so away from other people.
If you find out you have TB it is a good idea to take off work or school during the first three weeks of treatment and avoid sleeping in the same room as other people. It is also a good idea to wear a surgical mask when you are with others.
Improving awareness
GEMS encourages all South Africans to improve their awareness of TB this month so that we can protect ourselves and our communities from this dangerous disease. Remember that anyone can develop TB so be sure that you know the major symptoms and visit your medical practitioner urgently should you have any concerns about the disease. TB can be beaten if we all take responsibility for our own health.
References
1. Pubmed Health, Pulmonary Tuberculosis - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001141/
2. MedicineNet.com, Tuberculosis - http://www.medicinenet.com/tuberculosis/article.htm
3. Health24 - http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-3990-4019,73431.asp
4. WHO - http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/
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