Canadian Health&Care Mall: Myths and Facts about Tuberculosis
With the pharmacology development, many serious diseases have ceased to be deadly. There are drugs and treatment methods to overcome almost any disease. But the problem of Bacterium Koch infection is relevant to this day. What do we know about this infectious disease? How to prevent it? Answers to these questions are easy to find on the Internet or other media. The main thing is to learn to distinguish fiction from fact.
Tuberculosis is a disease characterized by lung lesion, rarer – other internal organs or systems. Canadian Health&Care Mall researchers consider this disease one of the most ancient in the world. Archaeologists have found signs of this disease even in Egyptian mummies. In ancient Greece phthisis treatment (consumption, depletion) was considered meaningless and ineffective, but, fortunately, this pathology was quite rare. And in modern history tuberculosis epidemics extinguished millions of people’s lives. For example, in Europe of XVI – XVII centuries almost 20% of deaths were attributed to this particular disease.
«The real pain is never felt immediately. It is similar to phthisis: when a person notices first symptoms, this means that the disease has already reached almost the last stage» (Yukio Mishima)
The Japanese novelist and playwright is right that tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose at early stages. Often, it has almost no symptoms.
Bacterium Koch Infection Symptoms
The main danger of such disease is that pathogens propagate slowly, and unpleasant sensations occur only at later stages. Moreover, many people take signs of the body for consequences of mild cold or fatigue. You should go to the hospital, if there are such symptoms:
- unreasonable fatigue;
- sweating at night;
- not strong, but chronic cough;
- persistent increase in body temperature;
- problems with appetite;
- weight loss.
Emergency hospitalization is required in case of hemoptysis, chest pains, purulent secretions from upper respiratory tract.
It is important to periodically undergo full body examination – even if there are no obvious signs of disease. Often tuberculosis is found accidentally during X-ray or computer tomography.
According to Canadian Heath&Care Mall statistics, nearly one-third of the working population of the planet is Bacterium Koch carriers. Of course, this does not mean that all these people need urgent care. Only 6,4% of bacteria cause pathological processes in the body.
Factors that Increase Risk of Tuberculosis
Studies conducted with participation of volunteers suffering from different forms of tuberculosis showed that main impetus to disease development is decrease in immunity. This can occur for various reasons:
- poor diet (lack of essential nutrients, vitamins, macro- and microelements);
- constant fatigue (great emotional or physical stress at work or at home);
- bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse, drug addiction);
- concomitant chronic diseases (HIV, diabetes, duodenal or gastric ulcer, bronchitis);
- long stay in areas with unfavorable climate (lack of sunlight, poor ventilation, large crowds of people);
- small children, elderly and people serving sentences in prisons or other closed penitentiary facility are more often at risk.
Myths about Tuberculosis
Despite the fact that today almost any information can be found in open access, people continue to believe in popular myths about this disease. And many conjectures are based on outdated researches or unproven theories.
It can’t be cured. This statement is partially true. Modern pharmacology has not yet learned to fully eliminate pathogenic bacilli. But this does not mean that you should give up. Almost half of people, who asked doctors for help, restore activity and live a full life. Necessity to be observed by phthisiologist is nothing compared to opportunity to enjoy communicating with family and friends.
All patients are infection carriers. In fact, there are two forms of tuberculosis – open and close. And only the latter is a threat to others. It is important to remember that Bacterium Koch present in the body of millions of people, but correct immunity functioning does not allow them to cause damage to the body. A healthy person can hardly get infected after a simple conversation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis carrier.
Only lungs are damaged. Indeed, nearly 95% of cases involve respiratory system pathology. But besides pulmonary tuberculosis there are such types as lymphadenitis, pathologies of joints, bones and skin, central nervous system and urinary organs. Do not get hung up on breathing control, it is necessary to monitor the whole organism condition.
Tuberculosis is a disease of homeless people and alcoholics. Poor and socially disadvantaged people are more likely to acquire a variety of infections because of low immunity. But to think that consumption affects only people leading asocial way of life is not necessary. Often disease causes are severe stress, irregular working hours – this is a problem of many successful individuals.
The best way to prevent the disease is vaccination. This procedure is carried out to newborn babies and repeated at seven and fourteen years age. Such vaccines shouldn’t be refused from as timely training of protective functions will make fatal form of the disease impossible to develop. In addition, it is very important to keep to balanced diet, exercise and personal hygiene.