Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, popularly known as Koch’s bacillus, which enters the body through the upper respiratory tract and lodges in the lungs or other parts of the body, characterizing extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Therefore, depending on where the bacteria is located, TUBERCULOSis can be classified into:
- Tb treatment is free.
- So if a person suspects the disease should go to the hospital or clinic immediately.
- Treatment involves the use of anti-TB medications for about 6 consecutive months or according to the advice of the pneumologist.
- The recommended treatment regimen for tuberculosis is the combination of rifampicin.
- Isoniazid.
- Pyrazinamide and etambutol.
Within the first 15 days of treatment, the person should be isolated because he or she can still pass tb bacillus to others.After this period, you can return to your normal routine and continue using your medications.Understand how TB is treated.
Tuberculosis is curable when treatment is done correctly according to the doctor’s recommendations The duration of treatment is approximately 6 consecutive months, meaning that even if symptoms go away within 1 week, the person should continue taking the drug until age 6.months If this doesn’t happen, TB can’t be removed from the body and the disease may not heal.In addition, there may be bacterial resistance, making treatment difficult.
The main symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are dry and persistent cough with or without blood, weight loss, loss of appetite and shortness of breath, in the case of extrapulmonary tuberculosis there may be loss of appetite, prostration, night sweats and fever., signs and symptoms may appear where bacillus is installed.See the top 6 symptoms of tuberculosis.
Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis can be made by performing a chest x-ray and sputum examination with a search for TB bacillus, also known as BAAR (Alcohol and Acid Resistant Bacillus). To diagnose extrapulmonary tuberculosis, a tuber skin test, also known as Mantoux or PPD, may also be performed in 1/3 of patients.Understand how PPD occurs.
Tuberculosis can be transmitted by air, from person to person by inhaling infected droplets released by coughing, sneezing or talking.Transmission can only occur in cases of lung damage and up to 15 days after initiation of treatment.
People whose immune system is weakened by illness or because of age, who smoke and/or use drugs are more likely to become infected with TB bacillus and develop the disease.
Prevention of the most severe forms of TB can be done through the BCG vaccine during childhood, it is also recommended to avoid exposure to the closed sun, poorly ventilated and little or no, but it is essential to stay away from people diagnosed with TB.See how TB is transmitted and how to prevent it.