by Dr. Gozie John Ahukannah
#AbiaOnline
World Tuberculosis Day, observed on March 24 each year, is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. Statistical records has it that in 2012, 8.6 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.3 million died from the disease, mostly in the Third World such as Nigeria.
World TB Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day and World AIDS Day.
In Abia, it was not just world tuberculosis day but, world tuberculosis weeks as the ministry of health and relevant agencies started the exercise a week earlier with sensitization; to educate Abians on the need to prevent and cure Tuberculosis and make Abia a tuberculosis free state.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis — or TB, as it’s commonly called — is a contagious infection that usually attacks the lungs. It can also spread to other parts of the body, like the brain and spine. It is caused by a bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
What is Mycobacterium?
Mycobacteria are a type of germ. There are many different kinds. The most common one causes tuberculosis. Another one causes leprosy. Still others cause infections that are called atypical mycobacterial infections. They aren’t “typical” because they don’t cause tuberculosis. But they can still harm people, especially people with other problems that affect their immunity, such as AIDS.
Sometimes one can have these infections with no symptoms at all. At other times, they can cause lung symptoms similar to tuberculosis:
BACK TO TUBERCULOSIS
In the 20 century, TB was a leading cause of death in the United States. Today, most cases are cured with antibiotics. But it takes a long time. You have to take medications for at least 6 to 9 months.
According to medical experts, “Globally, up to half a million people developed multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) reported by 100 countries,” adding that, tuberculosis is the single commonest infectious disease worldwide with an estimated nine million cases and 1.5million deaths annually.
TB is being spread hrough the air, just like a cold or the flu. When someone who’s sick coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs, tiny droplets that contain the germs are released. If you breathe in these nasty germs, you get infected.
TB is contagious, but it’s not easy to catch. The germs grow slowly. You usually have to spend a lot of time around a person who has it. That’s why it’s often spread among co-workers, friends, and family members.
Tuberculosis germs don’t thrive on surfaces. You can’t get the disease from shaking hands with someone who has it, or by sharing their food or drink. A TB infection doesn’t mean you’ll get sick.
There are two forms of the disease; Latent and Active TB.
Latent TB: You have the germs in your body, but your immune system stops them from spreading. They become inactive. That means you don’t have any symptoms and you’re not contagious.
But the infection is still alive in your body and can one day become active. To prevent this, doctors will often prescribe antibiotics. Without treatment, 5% to 10% of cases develop into active TB.
Active TB disease: This means the germs multiply and can make you sick. You can spread the disease to others.
Symptoms of TB: There aren’t any for latent TB. You’ll need to get a skin or blood test to find out if you’re infected.
But there are usually signs if you have active TB disease.
They include:
A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, Chest pain, Coughing up blood, Feeling tired all the time, Night sweats, Chills, Fever, Loss of appetite, Weight loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor to get tested. Get medical help right away if you have chest pain. You’re more likely to get TB if you come into contact with others
who have it. Here are some situations that could increase your risk.
A friend, co-worker, or family member has active TB disease. You live or have traveled to an area where TB is common, like Russia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
You’re part of a group where TB is more likely to spread, or you work or live with someone who are vulnerable to TB. This includes homeless people, people with HIV, and IV drug users. You work or live in a hospital or nursing home.
A healthy immune system fights the TB bacteria. But if you have any of the following, you might not be able to fend off active TB disease:
HIV or AIDS, Diabetes, Severe kidney disease, Head and neck cancers, Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy.
Low body weight and malnutrition
Medications for organ transplants, Certain drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn ’s disease, and psoriasis.
Babies and young children also are at greater risk, because their
immune systems aren’t fully formed.
TB can be 100% cured and prevented and the treatment is free. Medications are the cornerstone of tuberculosis treatment. But treating TB takes much longer than treating other types of bacterial infections.
With tuberculosis, you must take antibiotics for at least six to nine months. The exact drugs and length of treatment depend on your age, overall health, possible drug resistance, the form of TB (latent or active) and the infection’s location in the body.
To help people stick with their treatment, a program called directly observed therapy (DOT) is recommended. In this approach, a health care worker administers your medication so that you don’t have to remember to take it on your own.
Also Abia state government before the celebration of the world tuberculosis day has constructed an MDR – TB ward at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia and also embarked on the installation of culture laboratory at the specialist hospital, Amachara, all these are also accessible by all Abians.
Abia state ministry of health is also giving free treatment to TB patients in the one hundred and two direct observed therapy centres in the State. There are free and ultra modern diagnostic machines at the five hospitals in the state, namely: Abia Specialis Specialist Hospital and diagnostic center, Aba road, Umuahia, specialist Hospital Ohafia, Specialist Hospital Amachara, Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, SDA Aba and ABSUTH, Aba.
The presence of key donor agencies in the health sector such as the WHO and UNICEF through well articulated integrated partnerships are also indications of the great concern of the Okezie Ikpeazu led administration to tackle tuberculosis and other life threatening diseases in the state.
Outside Tuberculosis, the present administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has inaugurated the use of ICT system operationalization of rural health care system by introducing the Abia Telehealth in the 15 primary health centres as pilot centres. What this means is that Abians will or can now walk into a health centre and have direct access to a medical doctor without stress.
All cases of sick persons with the known symptoms of tuberculosis and other diseases are hereby advised to reported to the nearest health centre or call 080097000010
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