Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment
Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by micro-tuberculosis bacteria can be transmitted through sprinkling of phlegm, when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
This infection is not a hereditary disease and can be cured with regular medication, for at least 6 months assisted by drug-taking supervision (PMO). Although most TB germs attack the lungs, the bacteria can also attack other organs of the body.
Tuberculosis Symptoms
The early symptoms of tuberculosis are non-specific. Generally include:
- Prolonged cough (more than 3 weeks)
- Breathing difficulties
- Chest pain
- Anemia or lack of blood
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling tired
- Sweating at night
- High temperature
Launching the National Health Service ( NHS ) page, tuberculosis bacterial infection can be spread through droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze.
Tuberculosis that affects the lungs or pulmonary TB is the most contagious type, but usually only spreads after prolonged contact with someone who has the disease.
In most healthy people, the body’s natural defense against infection and disease, known as the immune system, kills bacteria and there are no symptoms.
Sometimes, the immune system can’t kill bacteria, but it does manage to prevent it from spreading in the body. A person who will not experience any symptoms even though the bacteria will remain in the body, known as latent TB, will not infect others.
If the immune system fails to kill or contain the infection, it can spread to the lungs or other parts of the body and symptoms develop over weeks or months, which is known as active TB.
It should be underlined; latent TB can develop into active TB disease later in life, especially if the immune system is weakened.
