World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated each year to raise awareness about the disease and share information to enable each of us do our bit to kick out TB. The theme for this year is “Wanted – Leaders for a TB-free world”. Here are quick facts to keep us all well informed and safe from TB…
Every year, March 24th is marked as World Tuberculosis Day to raise awareness about the disease and share information to enable each of us do our bit to kick out TB. The theme for this year is “Wanted – Leaders for a TB-free world”. Here are quick facts to keep us all well informed and safe from TB
Tuberculosis is curable and preventable but is still one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.
Its symptoms include:
Cough that lasts three or more weeks
Coughing up blood
Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
Unintentional weight loss
Fatigue
Fever
Night sweats
Chills
Loss of appetite
GETTING TESTED FOR TB
About one quarter of the world’s population has latent TB, meaning people have been infected by the bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease. You should get tested for TB if:
You think you might have TB disease
You’ve spent time with a person known or suspected to have TB
You have HIV infection or a condition that suppresses your immunity and puts you at high risk
You think you might have TB
You’re from a country where TB is very common
You inject drugs or live in areas where TB is known to be very common
TIPS ON PREVENTING TB
Wash your hands after sneezing, coughing or holding your hands near your mouth or nose.
Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze or laugh. Discard used tissues in a plastic bag, then seal and throw it away.
Avoid close contact with TB patients.
Sleep in a room far away from family members who have active TB .
Ventilate your room regularly
In countries where tuberculosis is more common, infants are often vaccinated with Bacilli Chalmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine to prevent severe tuberculosis.
Finish your entire course of medication – this is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and others from tuberculosis. When you stop treatment early or skip doses, TB bacteria have a chance to develop mutations that allow them to survive the most potent TB drugs. The resulting drug-resistant strains are much more deadly and difficult to treat.
Know your status, by taking either a TB skin test, sputum test and a chest X-ray. In the event that an individual is diagnosed of TB, Nyaho Medical Centre offers free medication available over a period of six months. You can find out more by speaking to our Public Health Team on +233-50-148-1473
