| Tuberculosis is a common and deadly infectious | | | | tuberculosis kills nearly 2 million people worldwide. The |
| disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly | | | | disease is more common in areas of the world where |
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is a global pandemic, | | | | poverty, malnutrition, poor general health and social |
| fueled by the spread of HIV/AIDS, poverty, a lack | | | | disruption are present. |
| of health servicesSpreads through the air when a | | | | TB by taking several medicines for a long period of |
| person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, | | | | time. Treatment for TB uses antibiotics to kill the |
| sneezes or talks. Tuberculosis most commonly | | | | bacteria. The two antibiotics most commonly used |
| attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) but can also | | | | are rifampicin and isoniazid. Rifapentine (Priftin) is |
| affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic | | | | taken just once a week during the last four months |
| system, the circulatory system. Other mycobacteria | | | | of therapy. DOTS stands for "Directly Observed |
| such as Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium | | | | Therapy, Short-course" and is a major plank in the |
| africanum, Mycobacterium canetti, and | | | | WHO global TB eradication programme. Avoid drinking |
| Mycobacterium microti can also cause tuberculosis, | | | | alcohol or taking acetaminophen (brand name: |
| but these species do not usually infect healthy adults. | | | | Tylenol) while you're taking the tuberculosis medicine. |
| When the disease becomes active, 75% of the | | | | Ethambutol (Myambutol) or streptomycin drugs is also |
| cases are pulmonary TB. | | | | helplful against TB. Take your medications regularly |
| TB is one of the leading causes of death among | | | | and do not stop taking them, even when you feel |
| people living with AIDS. Symptoms include chest pain, | | | | better. Take your medication regularly, for at least |
| coughing up blood, and a productive, Night sweats | | | | six months. Avoid cigrette smoking. |
| for more than three weeks. Tuberculous meningitis is | | | | Tuberculosis Treatment and Ptevention Tips |
| sometimes seen in newly infected children. This form | | | | 1. Avoid Cigrette Smoking. |
| of the disease is a life-threatening condition. Systemic | | | | 2. Avoid Drinking Alcohol. |
| symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite | | | | 3. New mediction DOTS use regulary patients of |
| loss, weight loss, pallor, and often a tendency to | | | | Tuberculosis. |
| fatigue very easily. Bone and joint involvement results | | | | 4. Rifapentine (Priftin) is taken just once a week |
| in pain and fever at the joint site. The most common | | | | remember. |
| complaint is a chronic arthritis usually localized to one | | | | 5. Ethambutol (Myambutol) or streptomycin drugs is |
| joint. Osteomyelitis is also usually present. Every year, | | | | also helplful against TB. |