Health 24 - Tuberculosis, FAQ

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Tuberculosis - FAQ

You are in: Health24 : Medical : Condition centres : Tuberculosis > FAQ

Why is it important to overcome the social stigma associated with TB?
It is important that people with TB be visible in their communities, not hidden away.

What is TB?
TB stands for Tuberculosis Bacillus, the bacterium which causes the disease.

How bad is TB nowadays? Do we have an epidemic?
More people die from TB than any other curable infectious disease in the world.

How does TB spread?
TB is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread through the air when someone who has infectious TB coughs or sneezes.

Who gets TB?
Because the TB bacillis is breathed in it can infect anyone, both rich and poor.

When must I suspect TB?
The most important symptoms of TB of the lung are: A cough which produces sputum or phlegm, unexplained loss of weight, abnormal sweating at night and tiredness.

How can I know for certain if I have TB?
Health workers will arrange for analysis of your sputum.

Is TB a serious illness?
TB is the biggest cause of death to infectious disease in South Africa.

Can TB be cured?
Patients are put on a course of treatment for a period of 6 to 8 months as soon as TB is diagnosed.

What happens when a patient does not drink his/her tablets regularly?
If a patient doesn't take their medication regularly he/she stays ill and infectious.

How do you know if TB is cured?
The sputum (matter spat out after a deep cough) of the TB patient should be tested at 2 or 3 months and again at 5 or 7 months.

What about immunisation against TB?
The BCG vaccine given at birth is not that effective in preventing TB but it can help to prevent some of the really complicated types of TB.

What are the barriers in the fight against TB?
Poverty, HIV/Aids and the large number of infectious people are serious barriers in the fight against TB.

What is the role of the employer?
The employer should be aware about TB and its symptoms and share this knowledge with the employee who may not always be as well informed.

Tuberculosis menu
	About Tuberculosis
	Different political stances
	Drug resistance
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	HIV/Aids and TB
	Living with TB
	New developments in TB
	Quarantine
	Real life story
	TB in South Africa
	Testing
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	Who is at risk?

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