Monday, May 28, 2012

Is there any permanent cure for MDR TUBERCULOSIS

Is there any permanent cure for MDR TUBERCULOSIS?

Respiratory Diseases - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS? Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease usually affecting the lungs (pulmonary TB). Other parts of the body can also be affected, for example, lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, joints, etc. (extrapulmonary TB). WHO GETS TUBERCULOSIS? Tuberculosis can affect anyone of any age. Immunocompromised individuals such as those with AIDS (or those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus - HIV) are at increased risk. HOW IS TUBERCULOSIS SPREAD? Tuberculosis is spread through the air. When a person with tuberculosis, who is not taking tuberculosis medication, coughs or sneezes, the germs get into the air. Prolonged exposure to the tuberculosis organisms is normally necessary for infection to occur. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION AND TUBERCULOSIS DISEASE? Tuberculosis infection may result after close contact with a person who has tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis infection is determined by a significant reaction to the mantoux skin test with no symptoms of tuberculosis, and no TB organisms found in the sputum. Tuberculosis disease is characterized by the appearance of symptoms, a significant reaction to a mantoux skin test and organisms found in the sputum. In order to spread the TB germs, a person must have TB disease. Having TB infection is not enough to spread the germ. Tuberculosis may last for a lifetime as an infection, never developing into disease. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TUBERCULOSIS? The symptoms of TB include a low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and a persistent cough. Some people may not have obvious symptoms. HOW SOON DO SYMPTOMS APPEAR? Most people infected with the germ that causes TB never develop active TB. If active TB does develop, it can occur two to three months after infection or years later. The risk of active disease lessens as time passes. WHEN AND FOR HOW LONG IS A PERSON ABLE TO SPREAD TUBERCULOSIS? A person with TB disease may remain contagious until he/she has been on appropriate treatment for several weeks. However, a person with TB infection, but not disease, cannot spread the infection to others, since there are no TB germs in the sputum. WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR TUBERCULOSIS? Preventive: People infected with TB should be evaluated for a course of preventive therapy, which usually includes taking an anti-tuberculosis medication for six to 12 months. The exact preventive therapy plan must be determined by a physician. Curative: People with active TB disease must complete a course of curative therapy. Initial treatment includes at least four anti-TB drugs for a minimum of six months. Medications may be altered based on laboratory test results. The exact medication plan must be determined by a physician. WHAT MEDICAL CONDITIONS INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING ACTIVE TB DISEASE ONCE TB INFECTION HAS OCCURRED? HIV infection, when it occurs in tandem with TB infection, is the strongest factor in the development of TB disease. People with medical risk factors which increase the chance of developing TB disease, once TB infection has occurred, should be skin tested for TB. Their skin test results should be clearly noted in their medical record. These medical risk factors include: diabetes mellitus, prolonged corticosteroid therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, cancer, silicosis and being 10 percent or more below ideal body weight. WHAT CAN BE THE EFFECT OF NOT BEING TREATED FOR TUBERCULOSIS? In addition to spreading the disease to others, an untreated person may become severely ill or die. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF TUBERCULOSIS? The most important way to stop the spread of tuberculosis is to cover the mouth and nose when coughing, and to take all the TB medicine exactly as prescribed by the physician. WHAT IS MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS? This refers to the ability of some strains of TB to grow and multiply even in the presence of certain drugs which would normally kill them. WHO GETS MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS (MDR-TB)? People who have been exposed to a case of MDR-TB, especially if they are immunocompromised, are at the risk for developing MDR-TB. Other people who may develop drug resistant tuberculosis include TB patients who have failed to take anti-tuberculosis medications as prescribed, TB patients who have been prescribed an ineffective treatment plan and people who have been treated previously for TB. WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS? For patients with disease due to drug resistant organisms, expert consultation from a specialist in treating drug resistant TB should be obtained. Patients with drug resistant disease should be treated with a minimum of two or three drugs to which their organisms are susceptible. It is presently unknown whether preventive therapy can effectively prevent the development of active TB disease in people who are infected with MDR-TB strains. Immunocompromised people who are infected with MDR-TB are currently being treated with two to three drugs to which the strain is likely to be susceptible. Recommendations concerning preventive therapy for people who have been infected with MDR-TB are being developed by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MDR TUBERCULOSIS? The most important ways to stop the spread of MDR-TB include educating the TB patient to cover the mouth and nose when coughing, providing adequate treatment for people with MDR-TB and providing directly observed administration of anti-tuberculosis medications for people who are unwilling or unable to comply with prescribed drug plans. Source: New York State Department of Health National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention Division of Tuberculosis Elimination - Frequently Asked Questions
2 :
MDR TB ,as the name suggests is resistant to most of the conventionally used anti-TB drugs and this condition is on the rise worldwide. The outcome is not very good but there is still some hope. First, the sensitivity of the TB bacteria is tested to various drugs in the lab and those which inhibit TB growth to the maximum extent can be used to cure the condition, but these second line anti-TB drugs have a lot of side effects and should be taken for a long duration, sometimes as long as 9-24 months. If a preexisting condition like AIDS is facilitating the development of MDR TB in a patient, then the cure is even more difficult. If the bacteria does not develop resistance to any more new drugs during the course of the treatment, and if the treatment is completed successfully, the chances of a cure are very high



 Read more discussions :

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Is tuberculosis a communicable disease

Is tuberculosis a communicable disease?

Infectious Diseases - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Tuberculosis or TB (short for tubercles bacillus) is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans.[1] Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air, when people who have the disease cough, sneeze, or spit.[2] Most infections in humans result in an asymptomatic, latent infection, and about one in ten latent infections eventually progresses to active disease, which, if left untreated, kills more than 50% of its victims.
2 :
"Is tuberculosis a communicable disease?" -- Very much so. Do you understand the word "communicable"?
3 :
Yes, but not everyone with tuberculosis is infectious to others. TB can be latent, meaning the person is infected and treatment is usually recommended, but the disease is not active and the person is not contagious. Active disease is usually in the lungs, and infection here or in the larynx is contagious to others



 Read more discussions :

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Need help for Tuberculosis - description of the bacteria and disease PLEASE HELP

Need help for Tuberculosis - description of the bacteria and disease PLEASE HELP! :)?
Im doing a biology report on Tuberculosis and dont know how to start it.. I need the description of the bacteria (unique,shape, etc.) and I need the description of the disease (get host involved,malfunction, etc.) Can someone please help me and tell me the descriptions of those? Thanks :)
Infectious Diseases - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/tuberculos2/Tuberculosis_Signs_Symptoms_Treatment_and_Prevention.htm That page has all the answers to all of your needs. Good luck
2 :
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Mycobacterium http://textbookofbacteriology.net/tuberculosis.html http://www.lung.ca/tb/abouttb/what/causes_tb.html I'm not going to do your homework for you, but these are some really good places to help you get started on your paper and will assist you with learning what you need to know



 Read more discussions :

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Need help for Tuberculosis - description of the bacteria and disease PLEASE HELP

Need help for Tuberculosis - description of the bacteria and disease PLEASE HELP! :)?
Im doing a biology report on Tuberculosis and dont know how to start it.. I need the description of the bacteria (unique,shape, etc.) and I need the description of the disease (get host involved,malfunction, etc.) Can someone please help me and tell me the descriptions of those? Thanks :)
Respiratory Diseases - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Since you have access to a computer, and there is abundant information online, I think you should do your own reading and write your own report, so that you learn more about the disease. As possible sources, I have listed just a few relevant websites located by doing a Yahoo! search on the word "tuberculosis." There is much more, but these websites should be very helpful, and you should be able to prepare your report quickly with these references.



Read more discussions :

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Tuberculosis positive skin test Help

Tuberculosis positive skin test Help?
I got a tuberculosis injection and after two days this appeared on the site where the injection took place http://www.healthopedia.com/pictures/tuberculosis-positive-skin-test.html The nurse that examined my arm said that I don't have the sickness. The question is What should I do?
Infectious Diseases - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
The size of the pinkish bump is measured and if it's under a certain diameter, although you reacted to the antibodies you do not have TB. If you had TB they'd put you on a combination of antibiotics for over a year. TB is a very seriously and difficult infection to cure. You may have reacted to the TB test because perhaps at some point in you life you there exposed to antibodies and your body developed antigens to them. If you still concerned, get another TB test in a month



 Read more discussions :

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

can you kiss someone with tuberculosis

can you kiss someone with tuberculosis?
okay so this guy i like i am going to see at a new years eve party. i want to kiss him, becuase he likes me too =D but he said he had TB. and i was like is it deadly? and he said it can be. and i said are you going to be okay? and he said yep becuase i have it in my system so i am on meds for 9 months so i dont get it later on in life. does this mean i could catch it if i kiss him?
Other - Health - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
yeah, I think you breath that in... it's a lung disease. Good heavens... isn't that something people are quarantined for?
2 :
do not not touch them!
3 :
Yes, it is highly contagious though it is treatable..I don't think the kiss would be worth it esp. if you're not intending to have a serious relationship with this guy



 Read more discussions :

Friday, May 4, 2012

Will Tuberculosis affect employment

Will Tuberculosis affect employment?
I was diagnosed with Tuberculosis infection (not the Tuberculosis disease) about 5 years ago. I am not currently on any treatment / medication for it though I was prescribed some but I had stopped taking it, which I now know is bad after doing some research because it increases the my chances of developing Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis. I am going in for a medical examination for a messenger clerk position with the city library on Monday, Oct. 23. We are required to fill out a report of medical history for non-sedentary positions and on the form it mentioned tuberculosis. I was wondering if having the Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis will actually effect my chance as of being hired at a city library? Thank you!
Respiratory Diseases - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Yes, it will affect your employment. They will test you before hiring you, so you have to tell the truth. You have to go back on those medications immediately!
2 :
If your state health department follows Tb cases like yours and is aware that you were non-compliant, I can only hope that it would affect your employment opportunities.
3 :
TB is contagious, speak to your doctor about recovery, if he says all is good, then you need to get a letter from him/her to show jobs, its would be best to have 2 letters, 2 different doctors.
4 :
Sunshine, don't put out anyone's light to make yours shine. Haven't you been informed that TB is contagious? Why would you stop taking your meds? The city library? Don't do it. Get treatment first, please. Even if you just have the infection and not the disease, don't you think that not getting treatment could lead to disease or something else? Come on, be reasonable...and smart



 Read more discussions :

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Tuberculosis in pregnancy what is the common set of medication? is it R.I.P.E.S

Tuberculosis in pregnancy what is the common set of medication? is it R.I.P.E.S?
and medication for the new born?
Medicine - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Streptomycin and Pyrazinamide are contraindication in pregnancy. Only isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol are given. The child is given isoniazid. http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/active-tuberculosis-tb-in-pregnancy.html http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic618.htm peace



Read more discussions :