ACCORDING TO A RESEARCH by the World Health Organization, tuberculosis affects more than 10.7 million people around the world every year even though there are ways to prevent and treat it if it is detected quickly in the body.
It is for this reason that the CEO of the private health center Affinity Health, Mr. Murray Hewlett, says that these high numbers of TB cases continue to increase the burden on communities around the world.
“This also puts people who live or are close to others with the disease at risk, as well as those who live in areas that lack health infrastructure, which is why it is important to understand the difference between being infected with tuberculosis and contracting it through someone else’s infection, and knowing when to seek help for that,” said Hewlett.
For many people, finishing treatment for tuberculosis often makes them feel like they have closed a very difficult chapter in their life. However, the bad thing is that it happens that in some people this disease comes back a second time, which may be because the virus has not left the body completely or it may be that it is surrounded again by other germs that have been infected with it, bringing it back.
What is tuberculosis?
It is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which usually affects the lungs, and can also spread to other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine and brain.
However, if you use your medications correctly, this disease can be cured. Treatment involves using the medication for a few months, which is usually six months, and it is also important to follow the instructions for using the medication to ensure that it kills the bacteria that cause us to be surrounded.
Is it possible for this disease to come back a second time in the patient?
Yes, it can happen, but it can happen in two ways – either when you use your medication the virus doesn’t clear up properly, or you get infected a second time.
TB relapse, which is when the virus is not cleared properly while you are using your medication, which is often caused by rushing to stop using the medication before you have finished, or you forget to use your medication, or maybe your body does not accept it properly. This usually manifests itself after a few months or a few years after you stop using the drugs for this disease. That’s why it’s important to use and finish your medication correctly.
TB reinfection is a condition that occurs when a person who had previously had tuberculosis, was treated well and ended, and gets infected again over time. In this case, it is common that the disease comes back twice as strong as before. This doesn’t mean that your medication didn’t help you at first, but it means that the environment where you live, or the people you live with – one or both of them is cheating you with this disease for the second time.
Why is it important to use your medication until you finish it?
Tuberculosis bacteria multiply slowly, slowly which means that its symptoms disappear and you are completely incurable, so if you stop using your medicines before the right time – you are allowing the bacteria to multiply, which puts you at risk of a second infection. And another big risk is that, not finishing your medication at the right time, it can cause you to suffer from this type of disease which is very dangerous because it is difficult to treat, and once it is diagnosed, it needs more care than usual.
Who is most at risk of contracting this disease?
- People with weakened immune systems.
- People with chronic diseases such as diabetes.
- Those who do not have the problem of not being able to get medical help immediately.
- People who live or work in densely populated areas.
Here are the signs to watch out for and take immediate action
- Cough that doesn’t stop for two weeks.
- Bloating and night sweats.
- Losing weight beyond reasonable cause.
- Chronic fatigue and weakness.