TUBERCULOSIS

 Hello everyone! I hope that you all are fine and I am fine too. Today's blog revolves around another killer disease that is highly prevalent worldwide. Yes! I am talking of Tuberculosis. Let's start. 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis is also known as TB. It is a contagious disease. It usually attacks your lungs. But, in some rare cases, it also attacks the brain, spine, and Kidney. A bacteria, known as " Mycobacterium Tuberculosis" causes Tuberculosis. 

TYPES

Following are the types of TB along with their symptoms and diagnosis:-

1. LATENT TB

• You have germs in your body, but your immune system keeps them from spreading. You do not have any symptoms, and you are not contagious. But the infection is still alive and can one day become active. If you are at high risk for re-activation -- for instance, if you have HIV, you had an infection in the past two years, your chest X-ray is unusual, or your immune system has weakened - your doctor will give you medications to prevent active TB.  

     2.  ACTIVE TB

• The germs multiply and make you sick. You can spread the disease to others. Ninety percent of active cases in adults come from a latent TB infection.

A latent or active TB infection can also be drug-resistant, meaning certain medications do not work against the bacteria.

CAUSES

• If you work with someone who is affected by Tuberculosis, then you are exposed to Tuberculosis.
• Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
• A weak immune system.

SYMPTOMS

Following are the symptoms of Tuberculosis:-

• A cough that lasts more than three weeks
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Feeling tired all the time
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

PREVALENCE

In the 20th century, TB was a leading cause of death in the United States. Today, most cases are cured with antibiotics. But it takes a long time. You have to take medications for at least 6 to 9 months.

DIAGNOSIS

There are two common tests for tuberculosis:

• Skin test. This is also known as the Mantoux tuberculin skin test. A technician injects a small amount of fluid into the skin of your lower arm. After 2 or 3 days, they’ll check for swelling in your arm. If your results are positive, you probably have TB bacteria. But you could also get a false positive. If you’ve gotten a tuberculosis vaccine called bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the test could say that you have TB when you don’t. The results can also be a false negative, saying that you don’t have TB when you do, if you have a very new infection. You might get this test more than once.
• Blood test. These tests, also called interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), measure the response when TB proteins are mixed with a small amount of your blood.

Those tests don’t tell you if your infection is latent or active. If you get a positive skin or blood test, your doctor will learn which type you have with:

• A chest X-ray or CT scan to look for changes in your lungs
• Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) tests for TB bacteria in your sputum, the mucus that comes up when you cough

TREATMENTS

Your treatment will depend on your infection.

• If you have latent TB, your doctor will give you medication to kill the bacteria so the infection doesn’t become active. You might get isoniazid, rifapentine, or rifampin, either alone or combined. You will have to take the drugs for up to 9 months. If you see any signs of active TB, call your doctor right away.
• A combination of medicines also treats active TB. The most common are ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin. You will take them for 6 to 12 months.
• If you have drug-resistant TB, your doctor might give you one or more different medicines. You may have to take them for much longer, up to 30 months, and they can cause more side effects.

Whatever kind of infection you have, it is important to finish taking all of your medications, even when you feel better. If you quit too soon, the bacteria can become resistant to drugs.

PREVENTIONS

TB is prevented by vaccinating yourself. One more way to prevent TB is to stay away or finish physical contact with a person who is affected by TB. You should wait until he/she recovers and then you can be together again.

TB bacteria die very slowly. It takes at least 6 months for the medicines to kill all the TB bacteria. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States. The duration of Tuberculosis from onset to cure or death is approximately three years. The TB mortality rate (i.e. TB deaths among HIV-negative people per 100 000 population per year) is falling at about 3% per year, and the overall reduction in the period 2000–2017 was 42%. Worldwide, the TB incidence rate is falling at about 2% per year. Worldwide, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause of a single infectious agent (above HIV/AIDS). In 2019, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with Tuberculosisworldwide. TB is present in all countries and age groups.

Well readers, so that was it. Hope you liked it and if any problems, feel free to ask in the comment section. Suggestions are also appreciated. Please share and follow my blog. I would write my next blog soon. Till then, bye!!