TUBERCULOSIS (TB)

Is it tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a treatable disease, caused by bacteria (germs) Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB can damage the lungs or the other bodies and cause severe illness.

How is TB spread?
TB is spread through the air when people who carry tuberculosis in the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or speaks, and germs released into the air. When other people breathe in these germs. Their may be infected. Most people get TB germs from someone which are often located close to them, such as family members, friend or co-worker. TB is not transmitted through the goods and house equipment, such as cutlery, crockery, glassware, bedding, clothes or phone, so new materials and equipment for own use not required.

What is "TB infection"?

TB infection means that TB germs in the body, although not active. Often, after the TB germs enter the body, the immune germ control. However, these germs are still alive in the body many years in the inactive form. While TB germs not active, the damage could not occur, and the disease can not transmitted to others. People in such "infected", although not sick. For most people (90%) the bacteria will remain active.

The only one way someone can know whether it has infected is if there are positive results for specific skin test (Mantoux)

When does "infection" to "disease"?

Perhaps also, inactive TB germs become active despite after many years. This often occurs when the immune attenuated, due to advanced age, severe illness, an event that cause stress, drug or alcohol abuse, HIV infection (The virus that causes AIDS) or other diseases.

If the TB germs are inactive become active, germ The breeding and may damage the lungs or the other body. If the TB germs become active, TB disease can arise. Only about 10% of people infected with TB germs will getting TB disease.

What are the symptoms of TB?

TB can attack any part of the body but are most often is the lungs. Person who has tuberculosis may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
* Cough for more than 3 weeks
* Fever
* Weight loss without cause decreased
* Sweating at night
* Achieve always
* Loss of appetite

When someone needs to be checked sputum?
Someone needs to be examined sputum, if:
# A cough with phlegm for three weeks or more
# Cough with sputum containing blood

Sometimes, people who have TB coughed up bloody sputum. Some people with active TB disease experience symptoms only simple.
Tuberculosis Information - Indonesian 2001 [DOH-6140] Page 2

Are regular tests for TB?

1. Tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) shows whether a person may be infected.
2. Chest X-ray can show whether there are impressions of TB in the lungs.
3. Sputum test shows if there are TB germs in the sputum dibatukkan.

How to prevent another:
# Immunization in infants
# Increasing the resistance of the body with nutritious food

=======================

Source: website IDAI
"Http://www.dokteranak.or.id";
http://www.dokteranak.or.id)