Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an incurable, stubborn, and often fatal infectious disease caused by a strain of bacteria known as bacilli. Tuberculosis, (or, too-bur-yuh-lee-is) also commonly infects other organs, including the lungs, heart, and other bones. Tuberculosis has been one of the worse tropical diseases of the past. As such, it became much less common in the United States after the advancements in medical care and living conditions that were made elsewhere. Tuberculosis can still be a very serious problem in some parts of the world.
Tuberculosis, due to its incurable nature, is not curable, however, there are medications and treatments available to treat the disease. Unfortunately, no cure has yet been discovered for this illness. Tuberculosis can affect people of any age, race, or gender at any time. Most cases begin to occur in people who are between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four, though it can begin as early as childhood or even infancy.
The main causes of Tuberculosis are infections with infectious forms of bacteria, such as those that are transmitted through blood, needle needles, and sweat. Another cause of Tuberculosis is latent TB infection bacteria in the environment that can sometimes flare up and cause a case of Tuberculosis. Another cause of Tuberculosis is if someone in your family has had the illness and is already contagious. This is the main reason that pregnant women and children who had immediate exposure to tuberculous organisms are at risk of getting Tuberculosis.
There are two types of Tuberculosis, the chronic and the acquired. Those with Tuberculosis can develop the disease for a number of years, even though the cause of Tuberculosis is still unknown. The first symptom of Tuberculosis is a red, hard lumpy type of skin rash what is tuberculosis on the entire body, usually on the trunk and extremities. This rash may be called pustules and can be accompanied by fever, night sweats, and watery eyes. Some people may also experience irritability, a decrease in appetite, chills, and dark urine.
If you have had a case of Tuberculosis and are currently experiencing these symptoms, please consult a doctor as soon as possible. The longer Tuberculosis is allowed to remain active, the more chance there is that it will cause another case of Tuberculosis or at least prolong the symptoms. When Tuberculosis is left untreated, it becomes inactive, meaning that the dormant bacteria can resurface again. There is currently no known cure for Tuberculosis but there are many preventive therapy options available.
Tuberculosis is caused when the immune system becomes weak due to an ongoing bacterial infection. There are a number of ways this can occur, including natural genetic defects that leave the Tuberculosis infection without any defense against harmful pathogens. Another way in which Tuberculosis can become active is if an individual has a weakened immune system due to an illness such as HIV or a common illness like pneumonia, or has been on antibiotics for too long. Finally, Tuberculosis can become active because of an infection from another strain of bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumonia.
To prevent an active infection from reoccurring, you should complete a course of preventive therapy. In this class of treatment, you will receive treatment to suppress the immune system so that it does not overcompensate and attack healthy tissue, resulting in an active infection. In some cases, your doctor will also prescribe an antibiotic after you complete the preventive therapy course.
If you have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis, you may be given a single dose of amoxicillin to commence treatment. This will usually clear up the symptoms of Tuberculosis fairly quickly, although your body might still need time to build up a strong immunity to future attacks. If your Tuberculosis infection is treated early on, your chances of a full recovery are very good. In fact, you may never need to take medication for Tuberculosis ever again. However, if your Tuberculosis has worsened or you develop any other complication, your doctor may still provide medication to aid in treating your condition.
