tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a serious and contagious disease caused by a bacterial infection of several types of bacteria, called mycobacterium. The most common type of bacteria is tuberculosis, the most widespread of which is called mycobacterium typhreclusis. The disease was the leading cause of death in the United States of America in the early 20th century, before the invention of antibiotics, which worked and continues to work to heal most cases of disease, but its spread has increased significantly in the late century, especially in developing countries, because of The spread of HIV that causes AIDS: The virus weakens the body of the patient’s body so much that he can no longer resist tuberculosis.
Often, TB affects the lungs. However, it may spread in various parts of the body, such as the brain and spinal cord, and there are two main forms of this disease, the form is the presence of bacteria in the body of the patient, but does not suffer from any symptoms and therefore does not constitute a source of infection, Because the immune system stopped the spread of the disease, and forced the bacteria to remain without effect, but the opportunity remains for the disease to become active form, so doctors usually give the patient antibiotics to eliminate the disease in full, and the active type in which the patient of the many symptoms of RIP tuberculosis, the bacteria divide and reproduce, as well as proliferation in the various members of the patient, in addition to the possibility of transferring the patient to the infection to other people.
Methods of transmission of tuberculosis
TB is an airborne disease, such as flu and cold. When a person with tuberculosis, especially the pulmonary type, sneezes, coughs or even screams, he releases a spray from his nose and mouth, often containing mucocytrium bacteria. Is suspended in the air for several hours. If someone inhales it, it travels from the nose or mouth through the respiratory tract to the alveoli in the lungs. There are several factors that determine the likelihood of someone being infected with tuberculosis, most notably the susceptibility of this person to tuberculosis, as determined by the strength of his immune system, in addition to the extent of the patient’s airway, related to the number of bacteria released in the air with sneezing or cough, and there are also other factors such as Near the person receiving the infection from the patient, as well as the length of time of exposure to the molecules carrying the bacteria.
Symptoms of tuberculosis
TB symptoms are present in the active form only, vary according to the affected organ. Tuberculosis is exacerbated at a rather slow pace. Symptoms may not appear until months or even years after infection. The most prominent symptoms of TB are as follows:
- High body temperature dramatically.
- Suffering from severe cough accompanied by phlegm, which may last more than three weeks, may be accompanied by coughing blood.
- Feeling chest pains, as well as breathlessness getting worse day by day.
- Loss of weight and lack of appetite for food.
- Severe sweating at night or during sleep.
- Inflammation of the lymph nodes constantly.
- If TB affects bones or joints, it causes pain and determines the movement of the injured bone.
- Feeling sharp pains in the abdomen.
- Suffering from exhaustion and general fatigue.
- Feeling pain in the head, may lose the patient’s consciousness or may become unaware of what is around, and may lead to tuberculosis, convulsions, if infected the brain or spinal cord.
Similar symptoms may be similar to many other diseases, so there are many tests that diagnose TB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing for the potential form of TB for people most at risk, such as HIV / AIDS, as well as persons most relevant to TB patients, as well as health workers who treat these patients, as well as patients who inject drugs.
Treatment of tuberculosis
TB treatment involves antibiotics; although it is a serious disease, it is rare to cause death if properly treated. Most patients do not need to be admitted to the hospital. Treatment in the form of tuberculosis; Treatment of tuberculosis is as follows:
- Treatment of the underlying form of tuberculosis : In this case, doctors usually give the patient the medicine of isoniazid, in the form of pills taken orally, one pill a day, and for a period of six to nine months, and doctors may resort to rifampin, if the bacteria become resistant to the drug isoniazid, or If the patient suffers from side effects, usually given for four months, and can use a combination of isoniazid with rifapentin, in the form of pills once a week for three months.