TB -A THREAT THAT CAN BE EASILY THWARTED

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TB -A THREAT THAT CAN BE EASILY THWARTED

TB -A THREAT THAT CAN BE EASILY THWARTED

If there is an illness which can be tackled effectively but has been let go out of hands it is TB. For thousands of years TB has wreaked havoc in humanity. TB if detected early and treated properly is curable, but it is regrettable that TB is the leading cause of death among illness in India. Every two minutes, three Indians die due to TB.

So what is TB? A bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis causes this disease. This disease has been affecting humanity for thousands of years. Usually this affects the lungs and is called Pulmonary TB, but it can also affect other organs. It spreads when an infected person, coughs, sneezes etc. and since it is airborne, proximity to infected persons increases ones chances of acquiring infection.  Closed cabins, congested spaces, air-conditioned cabins increase the risk of spread of TB. In many cases, one may be exposed to the bacteria but the body’s immune system does not let it become an active disease. This is called latent TB, but when the bacteria overwhelms the immune system it causes infection.

The typical symptoms of TB are

  1.  Cough for three weeks or more, sometimes with blood-streaked sputum
  2. Fever, especially at night
  3. Weight loss
  4.   Loss of appetite

The first step in treating TB is to get the correct diagnosis. The Directly Observed Treatment System DOTS for short by the government is safe and effective for TB care. Medicines are given for free. Getting the right test done to test for drug resistance and then starting treatment plan is important. So choosing the right healthcare becomes crucial. Any delay or wrong diagnosis can lead to complication.

Once started, the drugs have to be taken for the full treatment period which could range anywhere between six months to two years depending upon the condition. It is but natural to feel better after a few doses of the drug and there is a temptation to stop medicines as the condition improves. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE FULL COURSE. If taken intermittently or in wrong doses it could prove fatal.

The latest threat in TB is the Multi Drug Resistant (MDRTB) and Xtreme Drug Resistant (XDRTB) forms of TB where the TB bug undergoes changes and the regular drugs used to treat TB become ineffective. This means longer and expensive doses of treatment with serious side effects. Regular TB treatment would last for six months and under DOTS would be free whereas as MDRTB treatment would last for more than two years and cost two to five lakhs rupees with serious side effects. Nearly one third of the cases with MDR TB succumb to the infection.

On an average a person infected with TB loses 2-3 months of work life annually and this impacts the family. There is a poor quality of life and chance of infecting the near and dear.

There are few things that we could do to avoid spreading TB

  1. Use well ventilated spaces.
  2. Avoid spitting in public places.
  3. Close your nose and mouth while sneezing, coughing etc.
  4. Maintain good immunity.

Ignorance and indifference have complicated the situation with TB.  An alert individual can go a long way in combating TB.