Coco-bassey Esu|26 March 2016|10:00pm
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, falling on March 24th each year, is designed to build public awareness that TB today remains an epidermic in much of the world. The disease although preventable and curable, still claims a high death toll of about 4000 lives a day. TB is a leading cause of death for people infected with HIV.
Team of the 2016 World Tuberculosis day is commemoration in Nigeria is "Find TB, Treat TB and Working Together to Eliminate TB" while the slogan is "Unite to End TB".
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs parenchyma. It also may be transmitted to other parts of the body, including the meninges, kidneys, bones and lymph nodes. The primary infectious agent, M. Tuberculosis, is an acid fast aerobic rod that grows slowly and is sensitive to heat and ultraviolet light.
BASIC FACTS AND RISK FACTORS FOR TUBERCULOSIS.
-TB is closely associated with poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding, substandard housing, inadequate health care, institutionalization and immigration.
-Persons with a weak immune system, such as those with HIV, cancer, transplanted organs and prolonged high dose corticosteroid therapy, are prone to TB.
-Substance abuse (IV /injection drug users and alcoholics) are prone to TB.
-A person infected with TB disease show signs of symptoms and usually feels ill.
-Also at risk are those with preexisting medical conditions or special treatment (eg diabetes, chronic Renal failure, malnourishment, selected malignancies, hemodialysis, transplanted organs, gastrectomy etc.
-Signs and symptoms of TB are insidious. – low grade fever, cough, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath, chest pains, loss of appetite, hemoptysis may occur (coughing up) of blood.
-A skin or blood test will indicate if a person has been infected with the bacteria.
-Treatment with antibiotics for 4 – 9months is required to treat active TB disease.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEMOTHERAPY IN TUBERCULOSIS.
-Most patients are now treated in ambulatory setting.
-Prolonged bed rest is not necessary.
-The patient is seen at frequent intervals.
-To prevent emergence of drug resistance, treatment must include at least two drugs.
-Standard 6 months regimen preferred for adults and children with combination of Rifampicin, INH(isoniazid) pyrazinamide and other supportive drugs as prescribed by your doctor.
-Ethambutol is added to the initial treatment for patients when resistance to INH is suspected from the health care providers.
-Treatment is to be continued for at least 6 months and after three negative cultures have been obtained.
-If INH and RMP cannot be used, treatment is continued for 18 months.
-Certain patients should receive initially four drugs to ensure that the micro organisms will be susceptible to at least two drugs. – Rifampicin, INH and Pyrazinamide (4th drug either Ethambutol or streptomycin).
-Ninety percent of the cases who receive optimal treatment will have negative culture within 3 – 6 months.
-Cultures that remain positive after 6 months indicate emergence of drug resistance and an alternative therapeutic program is then considered.
-The drugs should be continued for an average of 12 months.
Coco-Bassey Esu
Media & Publicity Aide to the Honourable Commissioner for Health, CRS
