A bacterial infection known as tuberculosis typically affects the lungs but can also affect other body organs. Is TB harmful? Read on to learn more about it.
Tuberculosis , which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is transmitted through sneezing and coughing in the air. Is tuberculosis a risky disease? Read on to learn more about it:
Is tuberculosis dangerous?
Tuberculosis affects anyone of any age, but it does not spread easily between people and often requires weeks of close contact with someone who has active TB. Is TB harmful? It is dangerous because it is challenging to treat and resistant to the majority of antibiotics.
If untreated, it can result in the infection of many more people and the death of nearly half of those infected within 5 years. Inadequate treatment of tuberculosis causes the emergence of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that are drug-resistant, and therefore difficult to treat.
Serious complications and infections are also brought on by the body's response to active tuberculosis, including:
- Joint damage.
- inflammation of the heart's pericardial tissues.
- lung inflammation and injury.
- Kidney and liver problems.
- injury or damage to the heart, lymph nodes, spinal cord, or bones.
Diseases in which tuberculosis is difficult to treat
The immune system fights off the TB bacteria, but if the patient has any of the following conditions:
- HIV or AIDS .
- Diabetes .
- severe kidney disease;
- Head and neck cancers.
- Cancer treatments, such as: chemotherapy.
- Malnutrition .
- Organ transplant drugs.
- You take specific medications to treat psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
When should you see a doctor?
If you experience a fever, severe night sweats, a persistent cough, or unexplained weight loss, visit your doctor.
If you believe you may have been exposed to tuberculosis, consult a doctor. Some of these symptoms may indicate tuberculosis, but they can also be caused by other health problems, so the Centers for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people at risk of latent tuberculosis be screened for Latent TB infection. The following individuals are recommended:
- HIV patients.
- Intravenous medication users.
- individuals who come into direct contact with infected individuals.
- Those who reside in a nation with a high tuberculosis prevalence rate, such as many nations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
- treating patients who are at high risk of developing tuberculosis.
Risk factors for tuberculosis
The likelihood of developing tuberculosis is increased by a number of factors, including:
- people whose immune systems are compromised.
- those who intravenously inject drugs.
- individuals who have been exposed within the last 2 to 5 years.
- smokers.
- The elderly and children.
- travelling to or residing in one of the following regions: Russia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, or America, all of which have a high tuberculosis prevalence.
- Work with patients who are at risk of developing tuberculosis in a hospital or nursing facility.
Tips to avoid contracting tuberculosis
If you work in a place where there are TB cases or you care for someone who has TB, it can be challenging to avoid getting the disease. However, following these advice can lessen your risk of contracting TB:
- Distributing educational leaflets for people to prevent tuberculosis, such as: the etiquette of dealing with coughing and sneezing.
- Avoid direct contact with a person who has TB.
- Ensure that the rooms are ventilated regularly and continuously.
- Cover your face with an approved mask to prevent tuberculosis.
- Go to examine anyone who had contact with infected people, even if symptoms do not appear.