Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis or as known as TB is a serious infectious disease that main affects lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air through coughs and sneezes.


Symptoms
Few common symptoms of TB

• Coughing
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain
• Pain wih breath
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Loss of appetite

Person at risk

• People with HIV/AIDS
• Drug users
• Those in contact with infected individuals
• Health care workers who treat people with TB

Causes

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings.

Although tuberculosis is contagious, it's not easy to catch. You're much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you live with or work with than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.

Control and Prevention

Stay home - Don't go to work or school or sleep in a room with other people during the first few weeks of treatment for active tuberculosis.

Ventilate the room - Tuberculosis germs spread more easily in small closed spaces where air doesn't move. If it's not too cold outdoors, open the windows and use a fan to blow indoor air outside.

Cover your mouth -  Use a tissue to cover your mouth anytime you laugh, sneeze or cough. Put the dirty tissue in a bag, seal it and throw it away.

Wear a mask - Wearing a surgical mask when you're around other people during the first three weeks of treatment may help lessen the risk of transmission.