Thursday 30 May 2013

Safeguard yourself.

Today this article is not impugned by the dented politicians or the dark side of Indian politics. This is going to be about something which is one of the biggest killer not only in India but in the whole world. This article is about "Tuberculosis". 

According to a report around 5000 people develop tuberculosis; nearly three lakh children in India drop out of schools due to this ailment and more than one lakh women are boycotted from their families.

Tuberculosis, a very fatal disease, is caused by a bacteria named Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis attacks the lungs mainly but its impact can be easily observed on other parts of the body.


Symptoms of Tuberculosis:-
Around 30-35% people who are afflicted with HIV develop Tuberculosis. HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) weakens out immune system making it prone to various types of diseases. HIV destroys out WBCs (White Blood Cells) which are responsible for protecting body against germ coming from outside the body and when a person comes in contact with Tuberculosis bacteria then the body is not able to kill or decimate it, and hence the person becomes affected by it.

Those without HIV also get victimised by this disease. These people are those people who catch this disease from entry of contaminated (having Tuberculosis bacteria) and thus become affected by it. 
Its symptoms may include fever, chills, extreme fatigue, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight loss.


Tuberculosis is of two types:

1)Pulmonary Tuberculosis- Tuberculosis which affects lungs. Its symptoms may include chest pain, and a prolonged coughing producing cough (phlegm).


2)Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis :In some cases Tuberculosis does not occur in respiratory system. This mostly takes place in the case of HIV patients, Young children. Some of its sites include : Pleura (Membrane of lungs), central nervous system, genitourinary system, in bones and joints. 


Who are most susceptible to it?

People who are most susceptible to it include
1. People is Sub-Saharan region. In Sub-Saharan region the percentage of HIV people is very high due to lack of sanitation and other things and the people living there are most likely to get the disease from the victims of tuberculosis.

2. People who inject illicit drugs.

3. People who live around people vulnerable to this disease (prisoners and homeless people living in filthy dirty places).

4. Those who smoke cigarettes are having nearly twice the risk of developing tuberculosis than non smokers. 

5. Health care provider serving people affected with it. 


Treatment of Tuberculosis


  If Tuberculosis is in an inactive state then an antibiotic called Isoniazid is given for six to twelve months. (It is not given to pregnant women).

 Active Tuberculosis is treated with INH and drugs such and refampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. Drug therapies for Tuberculosis may last for months and even for years.     

Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Most common diagnostic test of TB is simple skin test also called Mantoux test. A small amount of Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) is injected in the person's forearm. After 48-72 hours the doctor looks for a reaction on the testing site. A red hard bump indicates a positive test for TB. 

Blood tests are used to determine whether the TB is active or inactive. Sputum can also be used to look for presence of Tuberculosis causing bacteria.


Chest X-ray and Computer Tomography (CT) are used to diagnose TB. If the immune system traps the TB bacteria and creates scar tissue, this tissue and the lymph nodes may harden like stone in a clarification process. This results in granuloma (Rounded Marble-like scars) that often appear on X-ray and CT Scans.


TB is nothing but just an air borne disease and can affect anyone. We should underpin the person afflicted with it to fight against this disease.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat
Jai Ma Bharti

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