According to WHO, In 2019, 1.2 million children fell ill with the infection of TB globally. Child and adolescent TB is often overlooked by health providers and can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
24th of March is observed as World Tuberculosis Day and this Day is even more significant for us in India because out of the total number of TB cases in the world, about one-fourth live in India alone.
When a TB-infected person, coughs, sneezes, or speaks, the bacteria are released into to air. When nearby people inhale the bacteria they become infected.
A lot depends on the immunity of the person inhaling otherwise the situation could have been worse.
Symptoms of TB
The infection of TB may be latent (hidden ) or Active.
In latent TB there are no symptoms but skin prick tests can show evidence of TB
A person with Active infection of TB may have the following symptoms:
1. persistent cough that lasts for at least 3 weeks.
2.They may have blood-tinged sputum
3.Chills with mostly fever towards the evening
4. loss of appetite and weight loss
5. Night sweats and chest pain with cough
6. T.B. when affecting areas other than the respiratory system can also cause abdominal pain, joint pain, seizures, persistent headache, and swollen glands. Pelvic TB often causes infertility.
Diagnosis of TB
1.Skin Prick test (Mantoux test )
2. X-ray Chest
3. Blood tests – including CBC, Gamma interferons Release assay
4. Sputum tests for the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Treatment of TB
Till a few decades back, TB was a leading cause of death in India and the world but now it is completely curable when detected early.
Treatment for latent TB involves taking antibiotics and for active TB the affected person needs to take a combination of many drugs for a period of nine months.
Unfortunately, there are several other strands of the TB Bacteria that are proving difficult to cure because of drug resistance. The treatment for drug-resistant TB is more complicated.
How can you protect yourself from TB
1. Stop smoking , smoking increases the risk of TB and also chances of recurrence of infection after treatment.
2. Eat healthy. A good and strong immune system is the best guarantee against many disease including TB
3. Regular exercises like running, cycling, jogging, pranayama etc. are good for the lung function and keep the respiratory system healthy.
4. Do not ignore a persistent cough or fever that lasts more than 21 days.
Role of Homeopathy
Homeopathy can help at multiple levels.
It can help with improving the immunity of the patient and helps in
1.Controlling the spread of disease by improving immunity.
2. Helps in faster response to antibiotics by improving immune response
3. Helps in combatting the bad effects of the TB drugs on liver and kidney ,detoxifying the body.
4. In drug-resistant TB Homeopathy can help as a supplementary therapy where antibiotics alone are less effective.
Remember, timely diagnosis and proper treatment are the keys to the cure of Tuberculosis.
(Image -istock.com)
Leave a Reply