Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious respiratory chronic disease that is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. This is common among malnourished individuals living in a non- organize and crowded places. It is also common in children but this is not contagious it is called primary complex. Not only human is the source of tuberculosis. Other infectious source is mycobacterium bovis primarily from cattle and mycobacterium africanum. The etiologic agent can be determined though culture of the organism. Mode of transmission can be airborne droplet through coughing, sneezing or singing. Direct contact through infected clients by mucous membrane and any break from the skin can be a form of mode of transmission. Bovine tuberculosis from exposure to infected cattle usually by eating and drinking dairy products.

Period of communicability cannot be determined because as long as the tubercle bacillus is viable from being discharged from the sputum this can be positive throughout the years. The degree of communicability depends on the virulence of the bacilli, adequacy of ventilation, exposure of the bacilli to sun or UV light and opportunities for their aerosolization. For the susceptibility and resistance of the baciili the most hazardous period for the development of the clinical disease is the first six to twelve months after exposure. The risk of developing the disease is highest in children under three years old.

The manifestations of tuberculosis are low grade fever in the afternoon, night sweats, cough lasting more than 3 months this can be recurrent. The client will also experience weight loss that is unexplained and upon auscultation there is a presence of wheezing.

Preventive measures are BCG vaccination of newborn, infants and grade school or school entrants. BCG vaccination is proven to be effective if there is a wheal formation or what they call Koch's phenomenon. Vaccination can be repeated before the child will reach 5 years old. It is important to educate the public in the mode of spread and methods of control and the importance of early diagnosis. Improve social conditions, which increase the risk of becoming infected. For health centers, make available medical, x-ray and laboratory equipments for examination of clients.

Treatment for tuberculosis is free in the ambulatory clinics or hospitals except for those clients with complications and emergency treatments. Drugs that considered treating tuberculosis are isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and streptomycin. These drugs have scheduled when to take in but the medication regimen lasts about six months. The number problem with patients with tuberculosis is non-compliance to medication that's why the risk of getting infected again is high. That's why in some countries like Philippines have a strategy named direct observed treatment short course, this is to help decrease the cases of tuberculosis.

The best method of preventing tuberculosis is proper disposal of used tissue that is soiled of mucus or discharges.