Tuberculosis is very rampant in India, with a TB-related death occurring almost every minute.Every third TB patient in the world is an Indian.
- Causes
Causes
The primary cause for the spread of pulmonary TB is through coughing / sneezing / spitting phlegm, which releases the germ directly into the open environment and enters into another individual through the respiratory tract. This is called an open case of pulmonary TB.
It requires close contact with an infected person over an extended period of time for the other person to get infected.
Intestinal TB spreads through non-pasteurized or non-boiled cow‘s milk.
- Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Cough (for over 3 weeks)
Reduced Weight
Fever (low grade in the evening)
Fatigue
Reduced appetite
- Treatment
Treatment
4-5 medicines are required for treating TB
Avoid pregnancy while on medication
The Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) program requires patients to come to the DOTS center thrice weekly for their medication
Groundnuts / Soya bean / Egg / Fish / Milk
Khichadi should be consumed
Anything else can be eaten, including rice, even ice-cream
But at all costs, avoid tobacco & alcohol consumption
- Prevention
Prevention
Cover your mouth and nose with handkerchief before sneezing or coughing
Sputum should be disposed off by covering it with soil
Immunize newborns within 15 days of birth with BCG
Every house should be well-ventilated and sun-lit
Milk should be either boiled or pasteurized before consumption
Get all infected persons, especially open cases,treated with DOTS
- Complication
Complication
Convulsion
TB Meningitis
Miliary TB
- 5 Key Messages
5 Key Messages
TB is an infectious disease which can be cured
The DOTS program offers the best available treatment, which is also free
Medicines should be taken regularly for a prolonged period without a break
Some minor side-effects of the TB medicines exist
Tuberculosis can be prevented by the above mentioned measures
