Tuberculosis
has been a serious health problem since many years ago. This disease can affect
anybody; the most affected person is between the ages of 20 years to 40 years
especially those living in a poor environment.
has been a serious health problem since many years ago. This disease can affect
anybody; the most affected person is between the ages of 20 years to 40 years
especially those living in a poor environment.
Tuberculosis is an infection disease caused by
bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease usually attacks the
lungs but can also affect other part of the body.
bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease usually attacks the
lungs but can also affect other part of the body.
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis is found in human, while bovine is found in both pig and cattle,
tuberculosis is one of the killer diseases of man, it is a communicable disease
which spread through the air when people are affected cough, sneeze or spit.
The disease may take a long time to develop depends upon the state of immunity
of the individual.
tuberculosis is found in human, while bovine is found in both pig and cattle,
tuberculosis is one of the killer diseases of man, it is a communicable disease
which spread through the air when people are affected cough, sneeze or spit.
The disease may take a long time to develop depends upon the state of immunity
of the individual.
Tuberculosis
is one of those diseases that can handicap people physically, it is highly
infectious and chronic, a patient in an advance stage of tuberculosis can give
out 2,000 germs in 24 hours in droplet of saliva or spitting. The disease is transmitted
through inhalation of the organism from contaminated air or in dust that is
contaminated by infected sputum, though contaminated milk and meat from
infected animal. This disease manifested in various ways such as chronic cough for
more than one month, hyperpiesia coughing out blood sputum, chest pain, loss of
weight, night sweating etc its incubation period is 4- 6 weeks.
is one of those diseases that can handicap people physically, it is highly
infectious and chronic, a patient in an advance stage of tuberculosis can give
out 2,000 germs in 24 hours in droplet of saliva or spitting. The disease is transmitted
through inhalation of the organism from contaminated air or in dust that is
contaminated by infected sputum, though contaminated milk and meat from
infected animal. This disease manifested in various ways such as chronic cough for
more than one month, hyperpiesia coughing out blood sputum, chest pain, loss of
weight, night sweating etc its incubation period is 4- 6 weeks.
What
happens after infection? Once inhaled the bacteria reach the lungs and grow
slowly over several week. The body’s immune system is stimulated, which can be
shown by a man-tour test, a common diagnostic
technique. In over 80% of people of immune system kills the bacteria and they are
removed from the body. In few cases, a defensive barrier is built round the
infection but the tuberculosis bacteria are not killed and lie dormant. This is
called latent tuberculosis; the person is not ill and is not infectious. Some
time at the time of the initial infection, bacteria get into the blood stream
and can be carried to other parts of the body, such as bones, lymph glands or
the brain, before the defensive barrier is built. One third of the world’s
populations, two million people, have later tuberculosis.
happens after infection? Once inhaled the bacteria reach the lungs and grow
slowly over several week. The body’s immune system is stimulated, which can be
shown by a man-tour test, a common diagnostic
technique. In over 80% of people of immune system kills the bacteria and they are
removed from the body. In few cases, a defensive barrier is built round the
infection but the tuberculosis bacteria are not killed and lie dormant. This is
called latent tuberculosis; the person is not ill and is not infectious. Some
time at the time of the initial infection, bacteria get into the blood stream
and can be carried to other parts of the body, such as bones, lymph glands or
the brain, before the defensive barrier is built. One third of the world’s
populations, two million people, have later tuberculosis.
If
the immune system fails to build the defensive barrier or the barrier fails
later, latent tuberculosis can spread with the lungs (Pulmonary tuberculosis)
or into the lymph glands within the chest (Intra thoracic respiratory
tuberculosis) or develop in the other parts of the body, it has spread to
(extra pulmonary tuberculosis). Only some of those with latent tuberculosis
will develop symptoms (Active tuberculosis). About half, the cases of active
tuberculosis develop within a few years of the original infection, particularly
in children and young adults. The other half of active tuberculosis cases arise
from reaction of the latent infection many years.
the immune system fails to build the defensive barrier or the barrier fails
later, latent tuberculosis can spread with the lungs (Pulmonary tuberculosis)
or into the lymph glands within the chest (Intra thoracic respiratory
tuberculosis) or develop in the other parts of the body, it has spread to
(extra pulmonary tuberculosis). Only some of those with latent tuberculosis
will develop symptoms (Active tuberculosis). About half, the cases of active
tuberculosis develop within a few years of the original infection, particularly
in children and young adults. The other half of active tuberculosis cases arise
from reaction of the latent infection many years.
Anyone
can catch tuberculosis but those at particular risk are those who have been
exposed to tuberculosis bacteria and those who have not being immunized. They
include
can catch tuberculosis but those at particular risk are those who have been
exposed to tuberculosis bacteria and those who have not being immunized. They
include
1.
Close contacts of infectious cases.
Close contacts of infectious cases.
2.
Those who have lived in, or travel to or receive visitors from place
where tuberculosis is still very common.
Those who have lived in, or travel to or receive visitors from place
where tuberculosis is still very common.
3.
Those with immune system weakened is still very common.
Those with immune system weakened is still very common.
4.
Those with chronic poor health and nutrition because of life style problem
such as homelessness, drug abuse or alcoholism.
Those with chronic poor health and nutrition because of life style problem
such as homelessness, drug abuse or alcoholism.
5.
Those living in poor or crowded housing conditions including those
living in hostels.
Those living in poor or crowded housing conditions including those
living in hostels.