What is TB?

TB stands for tuberculosis, which is a chronic bacterial infection that is caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. TB is an aerobic germ that is shaped like a rod and is microscopic.

People get sick with TB when the TB germs are spread in crowded rooms that do not have enough ventilation and sunlight. The bacteria disperse into the air in tiny droplets when a person with TB coughs or sneezes. Another person can get TB when they inhale these droplets.

Left untreated, each person with active TB disease will infect on average between 10 and 15 people every year. But people infected with TB bacilli will not necessarily become sick with disease.

The immune system “walls off” the TB bacilli which, protected by a thick waxy coat, can lie dormant for years. When someone’s immune system is weakened due to other diseases, the chances of becoming sick are greater. Excessive alcohol intake, lack of proper food and stress levels are the contributing factors.

TB can be diagnosed through clinical symptoms, a sputum sample, a chest X-ray or a skin test (which is usually done for children)

What are MDR and XDR TB?

MDR stands for Multi Drug Resistant TB

  • This is a most severe and difficult to treat form of TB
  • MDR often occurs when patients start treatment but don’t complete it and the infection returns stronger than the medicine initially given.
  • The germ becomes immune to the normal TB treatment
  • A person with the MDR spreads MDR- if you come into contact with the MDR germ, you will be infected with MDR TB even if you have never been treated for TB before
  • MDR takes eighteen to twenty four (18-24) months to treat

XDR stands for Extreme Drug Resistant TB

  • This often occurs when patients with MDR TB default from their MDR treatment and the MDR germ becomes stronger
  • than the medicine available to treat MDR
  • A person with XDR spreads XDR
  • There is currently no known cure for this form of TB

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Signs and symptoms of TB

  • A persistent cough that lasts for two weeks or more
  • Chest pains
  • Constant fatigue
  • Night sweat (even in cold whether)
  • Loss of appetite and weight

Advanced signs

  • Coughing up blood
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hoarseness of voice
  • Menstruation stops in women (not due to contraception/menopause)

If two or more of the above signs and symptoms are detected go to your nearest clinic for a FREE TB test

Treatment of TB

TB is easily cured by taking tablets according to instructions given at a clinic/hospital for a period six or more months.

Initial intensive phase

Tablets are taken for seven (7) days a week for two (2) months to kill the TB germ At the end of two (2) months another sputum test is done to determine whether or not the treatment is working If the tests at the end of the two months confirm that the treatment is working, then a patient is placed on different medication for the remainder of their treatment duration

Continuation phase

Tablets are taken for seven (7) days a week for four (4) months to stop the germs from coming back. A month before the end of the six (6) months, another sputum test is done, the results of which must be negative of tuberculosis in order to be discharged as cured at the end of the treatment duration (6 months)

If you have had TB before, you must take medicine for eight (8) months

Initial intensive phase

Tablets are taken for seven (7) days a week for three (3) months The first two (2) months of which also include the administration of an injection

Continuation phase

Tablets are taken for seven (7) days a weeks for five (5) months

The importance of treatment

  • TB is a deadly but curable disease
  • Treatment stops the spread of TB
  • Completed treatment prevents the emergence of MDR and/or XDR TB which are difficult forms to treat
  • TB can be cured even in the presence of HIV; therefore it is not a death sentence