Detailed Information on Tuberculosis
- By:Juliet Cohen
Tuberculosis is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is a global pandemic, fueled by the spread of HIV/AIDS, poverty, a lack of health servicesSpreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks. Tuberculosis most commonly attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system. Other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium canetti, and Mycobacterium microti can also cause tuberculosis, but these species do not usually infect healthy adults. When the disease becomes active, 75% of the cases are pulmonary TB.
TB is one of the leading causes of death among people living with AIDS. Symptoms include chest pain, coughing up blood, and a productive, Night sweats for more than three weeks. Tuberculous meningitis is sometimes seen in newly infected children. This form of the disease is a life-threatening condition. Systemic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss, pallor, and often a tendency to fatigue very easily. Bone and joint involvement results in pain and fever at the joint site. The most common complaint is a chronic arthritis usually localized to one joint. Osteomyelitis is also usually present. Every year, tuberculosis kills nearly 2 million people worldwide. The disease is more common in areas of the world where poverty, malnutrition, poor general health and social disruption are present.
TB by taking several medicines for a long period of time. Treatment for TB uses antibiotics to kill the bacteria. The two antibiotics most commonly used are rifampicin and isoniazid. Rifapentine (Priftin) is taken just once a week during the last four months of therapy. DOTS stands for "Directly Observed Therapy, Short-course" and is a major plank in the WHO global TB eradication programme. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) while you're taking the tuberculosis medicine. Ethambutol (Myambutol) or streptomycin drugs is also helplful against TB. Take your medications regularly and do not stop taking them, even when you feel better. Take your medication regularly, for at least six months. Avoid cigrette smoking.
Tuberculosis Treatment and Ptevention Tips
1. Avoid Cigrette Smoking.
2. Avoid Drinking Alcohol.
3. New mediction DOTS use regulary patients of Tuberculosis.
4. Rifapentine (Priftin) is taken just once a week remember.
5. Ethambutol (Myambutol) or streptomycin drugs is also helplful against TB.About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles for Diseases. She also writes articles for Makeup and Hairstyles.