Tuberculosis: what everyone needs to know

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, often called Koch`s bacilli. The disease only develops in response to their reproduction in the human body.

How does one get infected with tuberculosis? The main source of infection is a person who has pulmonary tuberculosis. Sputum containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis is secreted from the respiratory tract, especially during coughing. Small droplets of sputum can enter the respiratory tract of a healthy person nearby and settle on the floor or ground, on objects and belongings. Infection can also be passed on through poor hygiene - for example, by not washing your hands after touching the handrails on public transport, or by eating unwashed fruit and vegetables, poorly processed meat and unboiled milk.

What happens when TB bacilli are inhaled? In most cases, if a person`s immune system is normal, inhalation of tubercle bacilli does not lead to active disease. A whole army of defence cells rushes to the mycobacteria caught in the respiratory tract, which absorb and kill most of the pathogens. But some mycobacteria can survive and remain inactive for a long time. Thus, the "attack" of pathogens remains without consequences. However, months or even years later, when the immune system is weakened as a result of some other disease, the lack of the disease is not enough to overcome the effects of the disease.

What happens when TB bacilli are inhaled? In most cases, if a person`s immune system is normal, inhalation of tubercle bacilli does not lead to active disease. A whole army of defence cells rushes to the mycobacteria caught in the respiratory tract, which absorb and kill most of the pathogens. But some mycobacteria can survive and remain inactive for a long time. Thus, the "attack" of pathogens remains without consequences. However, months or even years later, when immunity is weakened as a result of some other disease, malnutrition or stress, these bacteria begin to multiply, destroying the host cell with their mass and giving rise to the development of active tuberculosis.

How can I protect myself from the disease? In order not to get sick with tuberculosis, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. Strong health requires a strong nervous system, so it is important to avoid stress. Food should be nutritious, necessarily containing a sufficient amount of proteins. An important condition for maintaining health should be daily normal physical activity. Dust and unventilated rooms favour the spread of tuberculosis bacteria. To prevent the disease it is necessary to ventilate the rooms.

To avoid the disease and its development, a chest fluorography examination can be done at the polyclinic at the place of residence. If tuberculosis is suspected, the district doctor will refer for consultation with a phthisiatrician after clinical follow-up examination.

How to determine that there is a disease? The main symptoms characteristic of tuberculosis:
- cough for 2-3 weeks or more;
- chest pain;
- weight loss;
- presence of blood in the sputum;
- sweating at night;
- occasional fever;
- general malaise and weakness;
- enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes.

If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately!

Is tuberculosis curable? Nowadays there are many anti-tuberculosis drugs, the use of which can completely cure the disease. The patient should be fully treated for at least 6-8 months: for 2-3 months in hospital, then in a day hospital at the TB office and then on an outpatient basis.

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