TUBERCULOSIS is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Koch's bacillus.
Tuberculosis, in most cases, affects the lungs, but the disease can damage any organ, for example: kidneys, spine, brain, lymph nodes, intestines, skin, genitals, etc.
Who is at higher risk of developing tuberculosis?
Groups at increased risk of tuberculosis include:
1. HIV-infected individuals.
2. Persons in contact with tuberculosis patients (family or professional contacts).
3. Individuals with diseases that lead to weakened immunity.
4. Smokers, people who abuse alcohol or use drugs.
5. Immigrants and refugees from regions with high incidence of tuberculosis.
6. Persons below the poverty line, unemployed, persons without a fixed place of residence.
8. Patients of psychiatric institutions.
9. Detainees and persons in custody when they are sent to temporary detention centers.
10. Employees of penitentiary institutions, psychiatric institutions and employees of healthcare institutions.
The source of infection is a sick person or farm animals.
Transmission routes:
- airborne – the most common route of infection (95%),
- food - eating food from animals with tuberculosis, infected food;
- contact-household – through damaged skin and mucous membranes.
Signs of illness that require you to see a doctor:
- fatigue, general weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- shortness of breath with light physical exertion;
- prolonged cough and increased body temperature to 37.0-37.5 0 C;
- sweating (especially at night), weight loss, etc.
For a long time, tuberculosis can go unnoticed by the patient and disguise itself as acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.
Tuberculosis develops in about 1 in 101 people infected with the tuberculosis bacteria. People with weakened immune systems (due to chronic diseases or taking certain medications) and young children are especially susceptible to tuberculosis because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.
Tuberculosis is a curable disease, the success of treatment depends on the timely initiation of effective medications and the patient's discipline in following all the doctor's recommendations and regularly taking medications.
Tuberculosis prevention:
Vaccination for the prevention of tuberculosis with the BCG vaccine is carried out in the maternity hospital on the 3-5th day, revaccination is carried out at the age of 7.
Chest fluorography should be performed annually by adults, which allows, in addition to tuberculosis, to timely detect other lung and heart pathologies, oncological and occupational diseases.
Tuberculosis, detected on time and treated on time, is curable!
Tuberculosis treatment should be started as early as possible to achieve results faster and easier.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene.
- Temper your body, eat well, and strengthen your immune system.
- Do not self-medicate.
In Ukraine, treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs is free. Remember! Your health is in your hands!
Chuhuyiv branch of the State Institution "Kharkiv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention" of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine