A Comprehensive Guide To Identifying And Treating Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is one of the most common bacterial diseases in Namibia. It’s also one of the top ten causes of deaths across the world. As a result, it’s an infection that needs to be taken seriously by patients and dealt with swiftly by doctors.
Often a niggling cough can be a sign of something more sinister, and that’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to identifying and treating Tuberculosis.
Everything you need to know about the disease can be found below. Click the links to jump ahead.
What is Tuberculosis?What causes TB and how does it spread?
What are the signs and symptoms of TB?
How to test for TB?
Is TB curable?
How is Tuberculosis treated?
How can you prevent the spread of Tuberculosis?
Who is more at risk of getting TB?
Does smoking cause Tuberculosis?
When should you see a doctor?
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, otherwise known as TB, is a highly contagious infection that typically attacks the lungs before spreading to different parts of the human body, such as the brain and spine.
In 2018, President Hage Geingob announced that Namibia had the ninth highest rate of TB in Africa. It was also among the top thirty worst affected countries in the world.
While TB is treatable with antibiotics, if left untreated, it can be potentially fatal. Thankfully, it is preventable. Let’s take a look at what causes the disease and how to stop it spreading.
What causes TB and how does it spread?
Much like the common cold or the flu, anyone who has TB can spread it through coughing, sneezing, or even talking. The bacteria travel through the air, and a person just needs to breathe in those germs to become infected potentially.
Having said that, you need to be in close contact with someone who has Tuberculosis for a prolonged period to get it.
Thankfully, it doesn’t thrive on surfaces. It is an airborne disease, so you won’t catch it from shaking hands or touching items that a TB carrier has used.
Here are three reasons why the infection rate is so high in Namibians
- Poorer communities have less access to quality healthcare. The disease is also mild in the first few months, so they’re less likely to seek out medical care.
- Many people in these poor communities are malnourished, and TB is more easily spread to persons with a compromised immune system.
- Often households consist of multiple generations confined in cramped spaces, and this easily leads to the spread of the disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of TB?
You’ll notice that some of the symptoms listed below are consistent with respiratory infections such as bronchitis or the common cold. If they persist or you experience chest pain, please seek medical treatment immediately.
- A persistent cough (lasting more than three weeks)
- Coughing up droplets of blood
- Feeling tired all the time
- Chest pain
- Night sweats
- Fevers
- Chills
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
Did you know? The World Health Organisation estimates that for every 100,000 Namibians, 446 have TB.
How to test for TB?
There are two ways that a doctor will test to see if you have Tuberculosis.
- Skin test.
- Blood test.
If the test result is a positive diagnosis, a Welwitschia doctor will follow up with a chest X-Ray or CT Scan to see if there are any concerning changes in your lungs. They might also test for the TB bacteria in the mucous you cough up.
If you’re diagnosed with TB, you’ll immediately be given a treatment plan and antibiotics. You’ll also be advised of precautions to take to prevent passing the disease on to others.
Is TB curable?
Yes, Tuberculosis is entirely curable provided:
- you diligently take your antibiotics.
- you aren’t drug-resistant to the TB medication.
- you follow your treatment plan. If you don’t consistently take your medicine, you may need further treatment to cure the disease.
It takes between six to nine months to cure a patient suffering from TB completely. So it’s essential that you listen to your physician and adhere to the treatment plan.
If you have Tuberculosis of the lungs or throat, you should no longer be infectious after taking the TB drugs for two weeks. With time, you will begin to feel better and have more energy, but it’s crucial to complete the course. If you don’t, you will become sick again and potentially infect others.
Did you know? Seven percent of all Namibians diagnosed with Tuberculosis are naturally resistant to first-line treatment. As a result, doctors have to administer a more complex and expensive treatment plan. It’s not known why the typical treatment plan doesn’t work.
If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact Welwitschia Hospital. We’re here to serve, inform, and hopefully alleviate fears and concerns.
How is Tuberculosis treated?
The treatment for Tuberculosis consists of a mixture of antibiotics. You’ll be given Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol. These are all available as tablets.
After two months, you’ll simply need to take the Rifampicin and Isoniazid tablets.
You may experience side effects such as dizziness, feeling ill, skin rashes, flu-like symptoms, jaundice, and pins and needles. If you’re worried or really battling to cope, speak to your physician or a nurse as medication can be changed.
For those patients with drug-resistant TB, the medication does cause more side effects. Unfortunately, the treatment plan is longer, lasting up to 18 months. You may also be admitted to hospital for observation and to ensure that you continue to take your antibiotics.
How can you prevent the spread of Tuberculosis?
Remember, TB is a highly infectious disease, so if you are diagnosed with it or know someone who has it, these are the precautions you need to take.
If you have Tuberculosis:
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze.
- Wash your hands regularly, particularly after coughing or sneezing.
- Self-isolate or avoid public spaces.
- If you need to go out or go to work, wear a surgical mask when you are around groups of people.
- Take your antibiotics and limit your contact with people in the early days of your diagnosis.
- Make sure you keep your doctor’s appointments.
If you don’t have Tuberculosis:
- Limit contact with people in high-risk areas.
- Ensure your children have been vaccinated with the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.
Who is more at risk of getting TB?
Where healthy immune systems can fight off the bacteria, also known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, adults and children with compromised immune systems are more likely to contract the virus.
The following are all high-risk cases:
- HIV or Aids
- Smokers
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
- Underweight or malnourished
- People on medication for psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Does smoking cause Tuberculosis?
While smoking itself doesn’t cause TB, it does increase the risk of contracting Tuberculosis. It also reduces the body’s ability to heal when undergoing treatment and can result in the disease reoccurring.
As such, it’s best to stop smoking when diagnosed with Tuberculosis.
When should you see a doctor?
If you experience a combination of any of the symptoms listed above or have been in prolonged contact with a TB-carrier, it’s best to be assessed by a medical practitioner.
Contact Welwitschia hospital on (+264) 64 218 911 to book an appointment, email hello@welwitschiahospital.com or message us directly here.
