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Could you have TB?

TB is a serious disease and anyone can get it: One third of the global population is infected. The good news is that it’shighly treatable and preventable.

TB, or tuberculosis, is an infectious bacterial disease that mainly attacks the lungs. When someone with TB disease coughs or sneezes, bacteria-laden droplets spray into the air. People nearby may inhale these and become infected. Butinfectious people are most likely to spread TB to those they spend time with daily; you’re unlikely to get it from a stranger coughing in a public place.

Once infected, in most healthy people the immune system “walls off”the bacteria, which stops them growing and making you sick. This islatent TB infection: the bacteriastay contained for years, even a lifetime. You don’t have symptoms and aren’t infectious to others.

Some people, however, get sick soon after infection: their immune systems are too weak to stop bacterial growth. This is active TB disease, and is infectious. Untreated, it can make you very ill and can be fatal.

Latent TB can also become active TB years later if yourimmune system becomes weakened.

Who gets TB?

Anyone can get infected, but you’re at higher risk if you spend a lot of time with someone who has infectious TB e.g. a family member, or if you live or work in places with high TB rates such as hospitals or nursing homes.Poor people living in crowded conditions with inadequate health care are also at higher risk.

Once infected, thesegroups are at high risk for developing active TB:
  • People with HIV/AIDS or other conditions that weaken immunity e.g. diabetes.
  • Patients undergoing certain treatments, such as chemotherapy
  • People who became infected in the last two years.
  • Children under five
  • Elderly people
  • Low-income groups
  • Intravenous drug users.
Should you get tested?

Ask your doctor or at your local clinic about a TB test if you:

Have symptoms: coughing longer than a month; coughing sputum (mucus from lungs) or blood; chest pain; breathing difficulty; fatigue; weight/appetite loss; chills and fevers; wheezing; excessive sweating.
  • Spent time in the last two years with someone infectious.
  • Have HIV, or another chronic condition that affects immunity.
  • Live/work where TB is common.
  • Inject drugs
  • If your child's teacher or childminder has TB, have your child tested.

Treating TB

Active TB is treated with daily oral doses of medications for at least six months. Over 95% of people are cured, but only if they take their medication as prescribed.Complete the full course of treatment, even if you start feeling better. Otherwise, the bacteria will regrow, and may become drug-resistant. Then you’ll need different drugs, which must be taken for longer, have more serious side-effects and are less effective. If you become infectious again, you could spread drug-resistant TB to others.

You’ll probably be infectious for 2-4 weeks after beginning treatment, and need to stay home. After this, most patients continue normal activities.

Get regular check-ups during treatment. Rest, fresh air, stress management and healthy diet all aid recovery. Many patients find it helpful to join a TB support group.

If you have latent TB and are in a high risk group, your doctor may recommend anti-TB drugs to prevent development of active TB.

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Early diagnosis, and taking medication as prescribed, are crucial for preventing the spread of TB.

  • While you are infectious at home:
  • Wash hands regularly, especially after sneezing or coughing.
  • Cough into a tissue, then discard it in a sealed bag. If you don't have a tissue, cough into your elbow.
  • Avoid close contact with others.
  • Sleep in a well-ventilated room.

Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, February 2012

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