CONFRONTING THE SCOURGE OF TUBERCULOSIS AS THE 2017 WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY IS COMMEMORATED ON FRIDAY MARCH 24
Today, Friday March 24, the world over is
commemorating the 2017 World Tuberculosis Day. The annual World Tuberculosis
Day, which was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and duly
adopted by the United Nations (UN), is one of the eight official global public
health campaigns marked by WHO. March 24 was chosen to commemorate the day in
1882 when Dr. Robert Koch astounded the scientific community by announcing to a
small group of scientists at the University of Berlin’s Institute of Hygiene
that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis known as the TB bacillus.
Tuberculosis popularly known as TB is an infectious bacterial disease
characterized by the growth of nodules or tubercles in the human respiratory
organs, especially the lungs. It is a curable communicable infection that is
transmitted by inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of a carrier
or an infected person.
Tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects
the lungs, though it can affect any other part of the body, including the
glands, bones, and nervous system. Typical symptoms of TB include a persistent
cough that last more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm which may be
bloody, loss of weight, high temperature or fever, night sweats, tiredness and
fatigue, loss of appetite, overstayed swellings, among others.
TB is generally caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
which could be found in food, water or unsafe environment. The type that
affects the lungs is the most contagious type, but it usually spreads after
prolonged exposure to someone with the illness. Most times, it is transmitted
within family members who live in the same house.
In most healthy people the immune system, which is the body’s natural
defence against infections or illnesses, kills the bacteria thereby making the
patient free from any form of symptom. Sometimes the immune system cannot kill
the bacteria, but manages to prevent it spreading in the body of the carrier;
this means the carrier in question would not have any symptoms but the bacteria
will remain in his or her body. This mode of infection is known as Latent TB.
If the immune system fails to kill
or contain the infection, it can spread within the lungs or other parts of the
body, and symptoms will develop within a few weeks or months. This is known as
Active TB. Latent TB could develop into an active TB infection at a later date,
particularly if the patient’s immune system becomes weakened. It is estimated
that, about one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with latent
TB; of these, up to ten percent (10%) is expected to become active at some
point.
It is important to note that someone suffering from HIV/AIDS or any
immune-deficiency disease is at a higher risk of contracting tuberculosis,
especially when the person is not placed on a proper diet. Thus, a HIV patient
is expected to go for TB test from time to time.
Several tests are used to diagnose tuberculosis, depending on the type
suspected. The most common types include, chest X-ray, Mantoux test, urine and
blood tests, biopsy, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) scan; and in some cases, lumbar puncture may be recommended. Some
of the diagnoses are implored in a case of Pulmonary TB, some are applied in
cases of Extrapulmonary TB, whilst lumbar puncture is specifically used to
ascertain if the TB has infected the central nervous system i.e. the brain and
spinal cord, of the patient.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is the type that affects mainly the lungs, while extrapulmonary
TB is used to describe the type that occurs outside the lungs. Any of the above
types has the tendency of affecting the brain or spinal cord of the carrier.
Bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is
a vaccine for tuberculosis disease. Many foreign-born persons have been
BCG-vaccinated. BCG is used in many countries with a high prevalence of TB to
prevent childhood TB meningitis and miliary disease. Though, the vaccine is
meant only for selected individuals who have met specific criteria and in
consultation with a TB expert. For instance, BCG vaccination ought not to be
administered to persons who are immuno-suppressed such as HIV patients or
persons who are likely to become immuno-compromised like someone who is a
candidate for organ transplant.
In the same vein, BCG vaccination is not meant to be taken during
pregnancy. Even though no harmful effects of BCG vaccination on the fetus have
been observed or detected, further studies are needed to prove its safety in
the body of a pregnant woman.
It is noteworthy that, tuberculosis can be cured. In some cases, the
carriers would need a course of antibiotics, usually for six months. Several different
antibiotics are used; this is because some forms of TB are resistant to certain
antibiotics. If one is infected with a drug-resistant form of TB, treatment can
last as long as two years or thereabouts.
Tuberculosis is a contagious air-borne disease. Someone suffering from
the infection is not supposed to share household materials like spoon, fake,
cup, and what have you, with anyone until he is totally cured. He is also
required to always endeavour to cover his mouth with handkerchief whenever he
coughs, to avoid spreading the bacteria to his immediate environment or
transmitting it to anyone around him.
If one is in close contact with a carrier of tuberculosis, it is
recommendable to carry out tests on him or her to see if he/she has also been infected
with the disease. These can include a chest x-ray, blood tests, as well as a
skin test called the Mantoux screening test. This measure is often significant,
so that if necessary, the person can receive treatment alongside the original
carrier of the disease.
The World Tuberculosis Day is
aimed toward building public awareness about the global epidemic of
tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. According to UN, survey
shows that in the year 2012, about 8.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.3
million of the said carriers died of the disease, mostly in the Third World
countries or developing nations such as Nigeria.
As the global community marks the World Tuberculosis Day, there is an
urgent need for every Nigerian, both home and in the Diaspora, to acknowledge
that the societal menace of tuberculosis cannot be overemphasized and that, it
is indeed a contagious and deadly disease. On this note, we ought to
continually ensure that whatever we eat or drink is thoroughly boiled or washed
as the case might be and also endeavour to keep our nostrils away from unwanted
environmental particles such as dust and what have you.
Also, we should bear in mind that intake of vaccine, if and when
necessary, is a pathway towards embracing a TB-free society. Therefore,
government and other health stakeholders should encourage the entire citizenry
to ensure that they are vaccinated against TB by ensuring that the BCG vaccine
is regularly made available within their reach in line with the Millennium Sustainable Goals.
Above all, we should not forget
that this ongoing crusade is a civic responsibility of every sane individual
irrespective of his/her affiliation. Think about it!
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