Joseph Olaleye

WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. Around 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those affected. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms. Tuberculosis also remains a major killer because of the increase in drug-resistant strains. Over time, some TB germs have developed the ability to survive despite medications. Drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis emerge when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria it targets. The surviving bacteria become resistant to that drug and often other antibiotics as well. Some TB bacteria have developed resistance to the most commonly used treatments, such as isoniazid and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane). Some TB strains have also developed resistance to drugs such as the antibiotics. The risks factors are that anyone can get tuberculosis, but certain factors can increase your risk, including weakened immune system. A healthy immune system often successfully fights TB bacteria. However, several conditions and medications can weaken your immune system, including: • -HIV/AIDS – • Diabetes – • Severe kidney disease – • Certain cancers -Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy – • Drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organs – • Some drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, • Crohn's disease and psoriasis – • Malnutrition or low body weight -Very young or advanced age – • Traveling or living in certain areas WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TUBERCULOSIS Some people who acquire Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, do not experience symptoms. This condition is known as latent TB. TB can stay dormant for years before developing into active TB disease. It's called active TB if you have symptoms. However, in some cases, symptoms might not develop until months or even years after the initial infection. Sometimes the infection does not cause any symptoms. This is known as latent TB. General symptoms of TB. Because active TB typically causes many symptoms. Your symptoms might not begin until months or even years after you were initially infected. While symptoms usually relate to the respiratory system, they could affect other parts of the body, depending on where the TB bacteria grow. Symptoms caused by TB in the lungs include: - • Extreme tiredness or fatigue - • Cough lasting more than 3 weeks - • Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm) – • Chest pain • -General TB symptoms – • Unexplainable fatigue - • Weakness – • Fever -Chill’s • Night sweats – • Appetite loss – • Weight loss -Along with general symptoms TB that spreads to other organs can also cause blood in urine and loss of kidney function, if TB affects the kidneys back pain and stiffness, muscle spasms, and spinal irregularity if TB affects the spine, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and loss of consciousness, if TB spreads to the brain. These symptoms can have many different causes, however, and are not always a sign of TB. Most TB infections affect the lungs, which can cause a persistent cough that lasts more than 3 weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody, breathlessness that gradually gets worse. TB outside the lungs less commonly, TB infections develop in areas outside the lungs, such as the small glands that form part of the immune system (the lymph nodes), the bones and joints, the digestive system, the bladder and reproductive system, and the brain and nerves (the nervous system). Symptoms can include: - • Persistent swollen glands – • Abdmominal pain • Pain and loss of movement in an affected bone or joint confusion • -Persistent headache -Fist (seizures)