Health & Science: Tuberculosis
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (aka TB) is a serious infectious disease that attacks the lungs. It is caused by a bacteria
called Myco Bacterium that spreads through tiny droplets in the air (kind of like Covid-19), mostly in coughing and sneezing.
However, there are two types of Tuberculosis. One is the Latent TB infection (aka LTBI) where you don't feel sick, have no symptoms, and your immune system can kill the bacteria. While on the other hand, TB Disease is more fatal and serious because the bacteria is active. When your immune system can't stop them from growing and spreading, you'll begin to feel the symptoms and eventually die. But people who has LTBI will eventually get TB disease if the bacteria is active and not treated immediately, and though most people who has LTBI rarely become TB disease because the bacteria is inactive you should still be treated immediately.
Symptoms of LTBI:
- no symptoms whatsoever
- doesn't feel sick
- usually have skin test or blood indication of TB infection
- normal chest x-ray and a negative sputum smear (phlegm)
- needs treatment for LTBI to prevent disease
Symptoms of TB disease:
- no appetite
- chills
- fever
- sweating at night
- may spread TB bacteria to others
- usually feels sick
- usually has skin test or blood indication of TB infection
- may have abnormal chest x-ray or positive sputum smear or culture (phlegm)
- needs treatment for TB disease
How to prevent TB: Actually anyone can get TB. So here are some tips to not catch it: - stop substance and Tobacco use because they will weaken your immune system - avoid living with someone who has Tb or places where TB is common and avoid people with HIV - always stay healthy, wash your hands, and wear a face mask.
So that's it! Stay safe everybody! Bye!
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* credit to CDC and Mayo Clinic for this information about TB.
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