Tuesday, February 8, 2011

what are some socioeconomic factors that cause tuberculosis

what are some socioeconomic factors that cause tuberculosis??
i'm doing a research about some socioeconomic factors that cause tuberculosis in my community so your answers would be a great help :D
Respiratory Diseases - 2 Answers
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1 :
Many people have TB and never develop symptoms. People with AIDs and poor nutrition are at a very high risk for developing TB, once they've been exposed. People without health insurance are less likely to go to the doctor and be diagnosed. Diagnosis is expensive (costs for x-rays, etc.) The antibiotics used to treat TB are expensive and nasty. They cause liver damage and make you feel worse that the TB itself. The treatment should be taken for 6 months to a year, but if the person's symptoms get better, he or she is likely to stop taking the antibiotics, causing recurrence and antibiotic resistance.
2 :
Tuberculosis, caused by the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis is spread mainly through droplet and aerosol means - meaning if someone coughs on your or speaks too closely to you and you inhale some of the particles into your lungs. Major issues would be living in crowded locations (slums with multiple family members) and prisons (which are the prime example of tuberculosis spreading in closed space). Additionally, the poor are unable to get healthcare for a cough until it's too late, which means they have been spreading the bacteria around for some time. Anything that hurts your body's immune system will also make it more inviting for the bacteria - smoking, more prevalent in lower socioeconomic groups hurts your body's ability to fight infection. The homeless, who get pneumonia from being out in the cold have decreased ability to clear infections and they are often in shelters in close contact with others. It's also hard to get treatment, although the government mandates it, so it should be sponsored by the state. The drugs aren't nice to the body so it makes taking them hard - although now TB treatments are highly regulated to ensure the course is completed and drug resistance does not develop. If you take those risk factors I'm sure you can reach some additional ideas. Hope these got you started. Cheers

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