Sunday, March 28, 2010

How curable is tuberculosis

How curable is tuberculosis?

Infectious Diseases - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Once you get it you have it for the rest of your life.
2 :
Well, there are different stages of TB. Only 10% of those who actually inhale the TB bacteria actually develop active TB. For the other 90%, the body will "wall it off" which means that it will lie dormant in the lungs not causing an active infection. This, however, can change if the immune system becomes weak or the body becomes stress. If you do not develop active TB but rather "wall it off," you will still have a postive PPD test. For the other 10% who develop the active form of TB, a very rigid and long course of antibiotics are needed. (1.5-2 yrs). It is ESSENTIAL that the person taking these antibiotics follow the instructions from their doctor. If doses are missed or skipped, then the bacteria has the chance to grow and become resistant to the antibiotics. Stronger ones are needed to erradicate it. Lots of people do not follow their course of antibiotics because of the side effects and will not only see a worsening of their condition, but will infect others living near and around them. If the antibiotics are taken like prescribed, then the active TB will become latent TB (inactive). It will then act like the other TB which is "walled off." Once you inhale the bacteria, you will never truly get rid of it. It will just become dormant in the body. TB is HIGHLY contagious because it is spread through the air. There is a vaccine out there to help prevent TB but it's only given to certain patients who have a high risk of contamination. In fact, it's rarely given in the United States. It's the BCG vaccine. It only provides immunity for a limited amount of time and is not meant to be a routine vaccine. Hope this helps to answer your question.
3 :
TUBERCULOSIS IS CURABLE!!!!!! Especially in areas where it is non-endemic, where the resistance rate to the 1st line antituberculosis medications is lower. Diagnosis requires either a history consistent with tuberculosis (e.g. exposure to a TB patient, chronic cough, weight loss, night sweats and fever, back pains), CXR findings typical of tuberculosis (upper lungfield fibrohazy or fibronodular infiltrates), a positive tuberculin skin test, and a positive sputum smear for acid fast microorganisms (2 out of 3 morning specimens) or a positive sputum culture for acid fast bacilli. Assuming the patient has the symptoms and x-ray findings and 2 positive sputum exams, he can start TB treatment. In low risk areas, he can take 3 antiTB drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide) for 2 months and only the 1st 2 drugs for the next for months. In more extensive TB cases or in high-risk areas, he needs to take 4-5 drugs (the previously mentioned plus ethambutol +/- streptomycin injections) for the 1st 2 months then 3 drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol) for the next 4 months. all medications are taken before breakfast. the KEY to TB treatment is COMPLIANCE!!!! the meds should be taken without fail for the duration of the treatment period otherwise you run the risk of resistance. treatment for multidrug resistant TB is different. It is more expensive, less effective and takes longer to administer (at least 9 months after the time your sputum or any other TB specimen becomes negative from initially starting treatment). the BCG vaccine (bacillus Calmette-Guerin) does not protect you from getting TB. But it modifies the disease development by activating you immune system. It helps you avoid the more serious diseases related to TB like TB meningitis or disseminated TB infection. of course, treatment for TB in certain situations like for patients with AIDS (where TB is an associated disease) the treatment is different bottomline: TB is curable but you need to take the proper medications for the right duration.
4 :
It is a chronic infection but it is very curable. In some countries, newborns are given a BCG vaccine which prevents not the infection but prevents the progression of a TB infetion into something really serious. Screening tests for tuberculosis are: complete blood count to check if you do have a bacterial infection, chest xray to check if you have haziness and cavitations caused by the bacteria in the lungs, PPD which is a skin test that tells you if you are exposed to the infection and lastly and most importantly is the sputum exam where you submit samples of your (early morning)sputum for three consecutive days to the pathologist where the bacteria may be identified under the microscope. If you catch it early then the chances for cure is much greater. Medication will last until 6 months with 3-5 different kinds of medicines but your GP will taper of the amount of tablets as you go



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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Please describe the physical appearance of patients with tuberculosis

Please describe the physical appearance of patients with tuberculosis.?

Respiratory Diseases - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
GO TO THE DOCTOR. if you have TB you are putting EVERYONE at risk you come in contact with. fever, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, coughing up blood, pallor in color.
2 :
thin. loosing weight. coughing. sick feeling on face
3 :
TB is well known to present with vague signs and symptoms. They may look ill, tired and thin in general, with or without an occasional cough. They may sometimes have palpable painless lymph nodes. Otherwise the physical appearance are not very significant. For symptoms, pulmonary TB is commonly (but not always) with chronic cough, sputum (may be blood stained), low grade fever, general unwell, night sweat. Some patients have TB in other parts of the body and thus present with according symptoms, e.g. back pain in TB spine



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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Can one person have sexual relation with a person with active TB or tuberculosis

Can one person have sexual relation with a person with active TB or tuberculosis?
My husband found out that he has active TB and has been taking medicines for one week now. Can we have sex? Can he infect me if we did it?
Marriage & Divorce - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
go for it, even if you get TB at least you'll be able to share in the experience with the love of your life. TB is an aphrodesiac too, that's why they sometimes call it TBJ
2 :
talk to your doc, hon.
3 :
u don't have to have sex with him to get infected by TB. he can sneeze and u can get it.
4 :
You may want to talk with your doctor about this and if there are any risks involved with it... Good luck to the both of you.
5 :
Better ask your doctor... I presume you have been immunized



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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

can tuberculosis be passed through kissing

can tuberculosis be passed through kissing?
through what means could it be passed? if for example i share the same spoon with a tb patient, would i get tb too? those sort of instances...
Respiratory Diseases - 2 Answers
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1 :
You need to stop kissing old people.
2 :
no--its spreads through the air-TB is very contagious-if you know someone that has it need to turn them in-not being cruel but can infect a whole community



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Friday, March 12, 2010

2.What are the general steps to be taken in order to report a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis (TB)

2.What are the general steps to be taken in order to report a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis (TB)?

Infectious Diseases - 2 Answers
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1 :
I think your doctor has to report it.
2 :
The heath professional alerts the centre of disease control by submitting the required paper work or via phone. Exact protocol varies state by state but TB is a communicable disease which does require reporting. For more info visit http://www.health.qld.gov.au/healthieryou/communicable/default.asp or the CDC website


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Monday, March 8, 2010

worldwide incidence rate of chronic renal failure and tuberculosis

worldwide incidence rate of chronic renal failure and tuberculosis?
i badly need the worldwide incidence rate of CRF and primary tuberculosis in CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS.. thanks.. do you know any website that has many info about this? thanks again.. i really need it..
Respiratory Diseases - 1 Answers
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1 :
I can't give you figures but I have the words of a nurse [who's family I used to live with] in mind and she said that TB was really prolific. One of the big killers. She nursed the patents. So she knew..... She did her nursing before anti-biotics.... Now TB is unknown. Like Mumps and Measles etc. Renal/kidney failure isn't much of a prob in western civilisations and I would imagine not too much in eastern ones either..... Soz, no stats



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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Tuberculosis is caused by an organism belonging to the genus

Tuberculosis is caused by an organism belonging to the genus __?__?

Biology - 2 Answers
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1 :
mycobacterium
2 :
Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Actinobacteria Order: Actinomycetales Suborder: Corynebacterineae Family: Mycobacteriaceae Genus: Mycobacterium Species: M. tuberculosis



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Monday, March 1, 2010

Since there is some resistance to drugs exhibited by tuberculosis what are some of the treatments recommended

Since there is some resistance to drugs exhibited by tuberculosis what are some of the treatments recommended?

Respiratory Diseases - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I don't think there is another way to treat TB except through antibiotics. Resistance is caused by improper use or overuse of a particular antibiotic. If the doctors were to find that you had a resistant strain then they would set you up with a "cocktail" of of other kinds of antibiotics--several different types all taken at once.
2 :
Good question teewee There are two types of resistant T.B. out there: "multiresistant" has been around since the late 1980's and is resistant to the two classic drugs Rimfampin and Ethumbutal: There are some hot spots of occurrence but primarily in those with immune compromise (AIDS/HIV): It has come about primarily due to less than effective medications in circulation and lack of follow through with treatment plans: It remains treatable either with longer courses of conventional meds or different medication("second line"). Extremely resistant strains have now occurred and are defined as those resistant to Rimfampin, Ethambutal and at least one of the 3 "second line drugs". The World Health Organization and th e CDC have just completed an extensive study and concluded that most lack of effective cure is due to ineffective treatment plans not the medications themselves. There are very few cases of ERTB detected in the US and if you don't travel and are not immune compromised, prospects of contracting it are very low. I hope this helps.
3 :
I found an interesting article about resistant germs. It is becoming more and more common. I will provide a link. You might find it interesting as well. http://www.watchtower.org/e/20031022/article_02.htm


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