March 24 World Tuberculosis Day

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day

Every year we celebrate World TB Day to help raise awareness about this disease, and in an effort to end the TB epidemic. March 24 marks the day in 1882 when the bacterium that caused TB was discovered by Dr. Robert Koch. Because of this discovery, he paved the way to finding a cure for TB.

For more information about your lung’s health, or if you have signs and symptoms of tuberculosis, please visit Doral Health and Wellness Pulmonary Center.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a contagious disease caused by germs that spread from person to person through tiny droplets released in the air when you cough and sneeze. This condition mainly affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, or spine.

There are two types of tuberculosis:

· Latent TB – it means you have TB infection but the germ inside your body is inactive and causes no symptoms. It also means you are not contagious, but your infection is still alive and one day can become active, so treatment is very important.

· Active TB – this condition is the one that makes you sick and makes you contagious. 90% of these cases come from a latent TB infection.

Having latent TB means you could be asymptomatic, only a skin or blood test can confirm if you are infected with it. While with active TB, the signs and symptoms can include:

· A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks

· Coughing up blood

· Night sweats

· Chest pain, or pain when coughing or breathing

· Fatigue

· Chills

· Fever

· Weight loss

· Loss of appetite

When TB occurs outside of the lungs, the symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis in the spine can cause back pain, and when tuberculosis is in your kidneys, it can cause blood in the urine.

A healthy immune system will help you fight TB. But if you have the following diseases that also compromises your health, your body may not be able to fight it off.

· HIV

· Severe kidney disease

· Head and neck cancer

· Diabetes

· Medications for organ transplant

· Chemotherapy

· Poor nutrition

· Certain drugs that treat Crohn’s diseases, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis

You could also be more likely to get TB if:

· A friend, co-worker, or a family member has active TB

· You lived or traveled to an area where TB is common, such as countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa

· You work in areas where TB is common, such as nursing homes or prisons

· You work in a health care and treat people who have TB

If you have active TB, it may take a few weeks or even months for the medications to take effect and not make you contagious anymore. You can follow these tips so you can keep your family and friends from being infected:

· Stay at home – quarantine yourself. Avoid spreading the germs so you can prevent infecting your friends and family

· Proper ventilation in your room – TB germs spread more quickly in a less ventilated, closed areas

· Cover your mouth – use a tissue to cover your mouth when talking, sneezing, or coughing. Dispose of your used tissues properly.

· Wear a face mask – this will help lessen the risk of transmission

One of the most important steps in protecting yourself and others around you from TB is by following your doctor’s order. Be consistent and rigorously follow your medication. Never skip or stop doses. In doing so, TB bacteria might develop mutations that allow them to survive even the most potent TB drugs. A drug-resistant TB is deadlier and more difficult to treat.

If you notice signs and symptoms of having tuberculosis, consult your medical practitioner immediately.

At Doral Health and Wellness Pulmonology Center, we offer the best possible expertise and care in all aspects of pulmonology. To schedule an appointment, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212, or call us at 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://pulmonologistbrooklyn.com.