Myths and Facts of TB

Dr. Gyanendra Agrawal, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Jaypee Hospital, Noida explains the myths and facts about TB.

TB is a serious but treatable infectious disease. TB can occur in almost every part of the body. The most common areas are lungs, lymph nodes, intestine, bone and brain.

The treatment usually consists of a combination of TB drugs that must be taken for at least six months. TB bacteria die very slowly, and so the drugs have to be taken for quite a few months.

Even when a patient starts to feel better they can still have bacteria alive in their body. So the person needs to keep taking the TB treatment until all the bacteria are dead. The treatment is usually well tolerated by most of the patients. However, if the patient witnesses some side effects, they should contact the doctor.

It is advised that one should not try to diagnose TB on their own as some other disease may also  mimic the same symptoms. Untreated TB disease can be fatal. Chest x-ray should be done if coughing last for more than 2 weeks. Government provide free sputum examination for TB. TB is completely treatable if a patient follows the procedure religiously and regularly checks with doctor.

PREVENTION

Some other steps toward preventing the spread of TB include:

Directly observed therapy (DOT) should be given to patient with diagnosed tuberculosis

Cover mouth with a tissue when while coughing, sneezing or laughing.

Good quality medicine should be taken with proper healthy diet.

MYTHS AND FACTS

Myth – Tuberculosis is incurable

Fact – Early diagnosis is crucial for the treatment of TB. Patient needs to follow a thorough line of treatment with regular follow-ups with the concerned doctor to cure TB completely.

Myth – Poor & underprivileged are prone to TB

Fact – Anyone, regardless of socio-economic background and living condition is susceptible to TB.

Myth- TB affects lungs only.

Fact- Although TB of the lung is the most common form of Tuberculosis but the bacterium is equally potent to affect the other parts of the body like lymph nodes, intestine, bone and brain.

Myth- BCG immunization can prevent TB infection for the lifetime

Fact -BCG provides only a short-term prevention from the disease.

Myth- TB once treated cannot reoccur

Fact -The chance of relapse of the disease increases if the patient does not complete the course of previous treatment.

Myth -TB is a genetic condition

Fact- TB does not run in families and has nothing to do with genes. TB bacteria spread out in the air and can be inhaled by a healthy individual and that is how they acquire TB.

For Appointment : Dr. Gyanendra Agrawal, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Jaypee Hospital, Noida