TUBERCULOSIS

TUBERCULOSIS (T.B)

D.O.T.S (Short CourseDirectly Observed Treatment )

INTRODUCTION

• T.B control program was started in 1965.
• D.O.T.S (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) was introduced in 1995.
• In 2001 TB disease was declared as national emergency.

TUBERCULOSIS (T.B) KEY FACTS

• TB is a curable disease.
• TB is the leading infectious killer for all age groups.
• TB kills two or three millions people every year.
• In Pakistan, over 2,60,000 people develop TB each year.
• One TB patient can infect 15 to 20 people in one year.

What is Tuberculosis ?

Tuberculosis or TB is an infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is one of the oldest disease known to mankind. TB most commonly damages the lungs but can also affect other part of body including the spine, kidneys, joints, intestine, brain, lymph nodes and spine.

SYMPTOMS OF TB

• Cough (three or more than three weeks)
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pain
• Night sweats
• Fever
• Cough with or without bloody sputum
  

How does TB spread ?

TB germs spread through breathing. When people suffering from TB of the lung cough, sneeze, talk or spit then TB germs is spread through the air (droplet infection). Then the person in close contact with patient can inhale these germs and can develop TB. TB of the lungs patient can infect at least 10 people in one year. Poor ventilation, poor hygiene and over crowding aid the spread of Tuberculosis.

How is TB diagnosed ?

Sputum should be tested for the presence of TB germ under a microscope.
Chest X-ray will show abnormalities in case of pulmonary TB.
Biopsy of the affected organ may be required occasionally to confirm the diagnosis such as liver, bone or lymph node.

Who is at Risk ?

• The risk of infection is high in close contact with a person with sputum positive pulmonary TB.
• People with HIV infection, malnutrition and with uncontrolled diabetic patients are at high risk due to weakened immunity.
  

TB TREATMENT

• TB is treated with medicines.
• No need of hospitalization.
• Take medicine regularly and upto the desire period.
• The total duration of TB treatment ranges approximately eight months.
• During treatment sputum should be tested after two, five and eight months because it is very necessary.
  

PREVENTATION OF TB TRANSMISSION

• Cover your face when coughing, sneezing or laughing.
• Do not go to work for a few weeks.
• Minimise close contact (particularly with children) during the first two to four weeks.
• Don’t spit.
• Keep rooms well-ventillated.
• Make sure there is adequate sunlight.
• Take medicines regularly for the full prescribed course.
• Wash your bedsheets, hankerchief or pillow with warm water and dry it in sunlight.
• Quick treatment of Disease is the best way of stopping TB transmission.
  

What happens if TB is untreated ?

• TB patients could die within a few years.
• Untreated patient is a major risk to other people.
• Untreated patient of lung TB infects 15 to 20 people in one year.

Why it is necessary to take all medicines ?

• If TB patient takes prescribed medicines patient have 95% chance of being cured.
• It is important that the full course is followed by the patient. After few weeks patient feels better but DONOT STOP taking your medicines because TB germs may still be alive and hiding in remote parts of lungs and they can multiply rapidly and cause much more problems.
  

Is TB medicines harmful during Pregnancy ?

• TB is harmful for pregnancy but TB medicines are not.
• TB affected pregnant lady is allowed to take prescribed TB medicines excluding injections.

TB affected mother can feed milk to her child during treatment ?

Yes she can feed her child but she must cover her face and turns her face in other direction.

What to do If TB affected woman gives birth to a child ?

Get her child caccinated with BCG within 1st week of birth.

Which type of meal TB patient should take?

During treatment patient should take balanced diet. Spices and Oil are allowed according to taste.

What to do? If patient can’t able to purchase TB medicines ?

TB medicines are free of cost and available at every centre of TB Control Program. So visit your most near centre to get free of cost medicines.

Do anti TB drugs have any side effects?

• A few side effects are serious but rare, like yellow eyes or skin (jaundice) or change in vision.
• Occasional itching and joint pains may also be experienced.
• Nausea and vomiting is common side effects but usually settle after few days of taking medicine.
• Pregnant and lactating women can take these TB medicines without any fear.
• TB medicines changes urine color to orange which is harmless.
  In such cases, a doctor should be visited as early as possible.
  

NOTE

In general anti-TB drugs are safe and do not cause major side effects. One should not stop taking anti-TB drugs because of these minor side effects.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

If you have cough (three or more than three weeks)

In such case, doctor should be visited as soon as possible.

If you are TB patient

In such case take TB treatment D.O.T.S. under observation of any responsible person. Course ranges upto 8 (eight) months.

If you are doctor

Make it sure that your patient will be cured after treatment and adopt D.O.T.S program.

If you are Social worker

Give information about TB to TB patient s and help them by giving medicines regularly and follow full prescription.

If you are teacher

Give basic information about TB to your students.

If you are Politician

Provide facilities regarding D.O.T.S. program at each Health Centres.

If you are Religious Scholar

Give awareness to public/people about TB and that TB is a curable disease.

If you are affiliated with any newspaper or magazine

Publish articles regarding TB diagnosis, TB treatment or TB preventation.

If you want further information regarding TB control program. You can also contact :

DR. S. GHULAM ABBAS NAQVI

M.B.B.S. DTCD

Chest specialist
Medical Officer and Zonal T.B Co-ordinator
T.B Control Program
Karachi.
Phone Office : 021 - 5400527
Mobile Number : 0300 - 9237020

EMAIL ADDRESSES : ganaqvi1@hotmail.com

ganaqvi1@yahoo.com

ganaqvi1@gmail.com

SPECIAL THANKS
I feel much more pleasure to be a part of this program.
I want to convey special thanks to DR. S.GHULAM ABBAS NAQVI who provides me each and every information and facts regarding TB disease treatment, preventation diagnosis etc and make me eligible to compose these information in one place for helping every body for the sake of humanity.

Composed by Fehmida Ishtiaq