If you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, you may wish to ask your physician these additional five questions:
1. What treatment will I be given?
The treatment prescribed by your doctor depends entirely on the acuity of your condition, the type of bacteria and your medical history. It may require hospitalization and the use of combination drugs.
Usually, active TB is treated using antibiotics such as Rifampicin, Ethambutol and Isoniazid, which are used for a period of six months to two years to tackle Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Sometimes Pyrazinamide is also prescribed.
A diagnosis for latent TB may use combinations of antibiotics to keep the dormant bacteria from getting drug resistant during long term usage. Isoniazid is the preferred antibiotic prescribed by doctors for latent TB.
Tackling drug-resistant TB is a tricky and a global health issue as the bacteria in such cases is resistant to both Rifampicin and Isoniazid. So a couple of first line drugs and a few second line drugs are used in combination to treat TB. It is a wait and watch game and an expensive one.
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is also resistant to three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs.
Also, the treatment depends upon the country you live in, the preferred treatment options there by the medical fraternity, TB variants present there and the cost factor, government and insurance variables. Recently the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) is also being very successfully used in India.
For pregnant woman, TB treatment is done using Isoniazid, Rifampin and Ethambutol only.
For infants treatment is carried out with the prescription of Streptomycin, Isoniazid, and Rifampin only.
NOTE: Drug side effects are substantial. You must talk to your doctor before taking them.
2. What complications could develop in the course of the disease?
A rare but serious complication is Miliary Tuberculosis when the disease spreads to damage the entire body. Other complications include damage to the brain and the central nervous system in the form of meningitis. Complications can arise in the form of joint and bone deterioration and pulmonary abscesses.
3. What risk factors should I be aware of?
Risk factors could be divided in to several categories, including persons who have certain medical conditions such as:
• Lowered immunity
• Diabetes mellitus
• People with very low BMIs
• Patients with silicosis
• Vitamin D deficient persons
• Leukemic patients
• Persons with kidney conditions
• Persons with Hodgkin’s Disease
• Patients who suffer from chronic mal-absorption of nutrients
• Patients using certain drugs for rheumatoid arthritis
• Malnourished persons
Occupations may also play a part, including:
o Those working or living in/near construction sites, areas with silicon mining, working in marshy areas and refugee camps or any other place with poor living conditions, and poor hygiene coupled with high density of population
o Those who travel frequently
o Medical care givers
Other risk factors include:
• Exposure to infected persons
• Age – too young or old
• Substance abuse, IV drug abuse (needle)
• Country of origin –especially countries like China, South East Asian countries, India, countries of Southern African continent, etc.
4. What is the prognosis on TB?
Generally your body’s immune system should be able to overpower the TB bacteria fairly quickly. It is also possible that defenses get activated a few weeks after exposure in some cases where the body tries to wall-off or cut-out the bacteria by enveloping it in a scab-like formation. In such a case you may be asymptomatic but have the TB bacteria dormant in your system. Years later up to 20 percent of these latent conditions can become an active infection. Also, persons taking immune-suppressants face a greater risk of getting tuberculosis. Of course, there are certain genetics that play into this as well – certain races are more susceptible to the disease than others. Relapse cases are not common unless you are a high risk person in terms of your environment, immunity, race, etc.
5. What are the steps towards prevention of Tuberculosis?
It is advisable that to keep TB free, you must complete its lengthy course of medication, not leaving it midway when you become asymptomatic. It is also equally important that you strengthen your immunity by exercising regularly, eating right and well, keeping off tobacco, etc. After the treatment, you must have yourself tested every few months for a specified period to see if you are TB free. To prevent the spread of the infection, you should try and stay home. If this is not possible, you must wear a mask or cover your mouth with tissue when coughing, talking, sneezing, etc., and dispose the tissues in a bin after usage. As a preventive you can have any newborn at your home vaccinated with BCG after consultations with your doctor.
ALL INFORMATION GIVEN IN THIS ADVOCACY SHEET IS TO BE CHECKED WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THEM OR TAKING THEM AS STANDARD OR VERIFIED.
Mamta Singh is a published author of the books Migraines for the Informed Woman (Publisher: Rupa & Co.) and the upcoming Rev Up Your Life! (Publisher: Hay House India). She is also a seasoned business, creative and academic writer. She is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer & sports nutritionist through IFA, Florida USA. Mamta is an NCFE-certified Holistic Health Therapist SAC Dip U.K. She is the lead writer and holds Expert Author status in many well-received health, fitness and nutrition sites. She runs her own popular blogs on migraines in women and holistic health. Mamta holds a double Master's Degree in Commerce and Business. She is a registered practitioner with the UN recognised Art of Living Foundation. Link: http://www.migrainingjenny.wordpress.com and http://www.footstrike.wordpress.com