Stating that the causative agent of tuberculosis disease is a respiratoryly transmitted bacillus called 'mycobacterium tuberculosis', Uzm from Liv Hospital Samsun Chest Diseases Clinic. Dr. Saliha Ercan Tüm said that if this disease is not treated, it can result in death. Stating that the tuberculosis microbe spreads in the air in droplets formed during coughing, sneezing and speaking of sick people, Uzm. Dr. Saliha Ercan Tüm gave information about 'Tuberosis Education and Awareness Week'.
One of the top 10 causes of death
Underlining that people get the microbe by inhaling the droplets containing the tuberculosis bacillus, Uzm. Dr. All, “When a person's body resistance decreases, diseases occur. Tuberculosis is still an important health problem in the world and is one of the top 10 causes of death. 12-15 million people are infected in Turkey and about 10 percent of them will have tuberculosis at some point in their lives. It is observed that the fight against tuberculosis is successful in our country with the successful contact examination and preventive treatment practices.
Pay attention to these symptoms
. Dr. Saliha Ercan Tüm listed the symptoms of the disease as follows:
“Patients may produce sputum, blood in the sputum, fever, night sweats, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, shortness of breath, chest and back pain. For the early diagnosis of tuberculosis, people with cough lasting more than 2-3 weeks should apply to the chest diseases polyclinic as soon as possible. Patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis may also have different symptoms of the diseased organs. Such as lymph node enlargement in lymph node tuberculosis, blood in the urine in renal tuberculosis.”
Complaints and chest X-ray are important in the
diagnosis Emphasizing that the diagnosis of tuberculosis is made by the demonstration of TB microbe in the sputum, Uzm. Dr. Saliha Ercan Tüm shared the following information:
“The patient's complaints and chest X-ray findings make us suspect tuberculosis. The diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of tuberculosis bacillus in the sputum and other materials taken from the patient or the production of bacillus in the culture. The PPD test shows whether the person has encountered tuberculosis bacilli before. A person's PPD (+) does not indicate that he has tuberculosis. Today, there are very strong drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis and 4 drugs should be used initially. According to the sputum results, the treatment is at least 6 months.
If drugs are not used regularly, microbes develop resistance.
Pointing out that if the tuberculosis patient does not use their drugs regularly, the microbes will develop resistance to the drugs. Dr. All, “In this type of disease we call resistant tuberculosis, many drugs need to be used for 18-24 months. The most effective way to prevent tuberculosis disease is to quickly diagnose infectious patients and initiate appropriate treatment. In personal protection, BCG vaccine is effective against severe and potentially fatal forms. BCG vaccine is protective against forms of tuberculosis, which are made with blood and involve the meninges, especially in children. In our country, BCG vaccine is given to babies who have completed their second month after birth. The drugs used in tuberculosis disease have been covered by the Ministry of Health for years.
