TUBERCULOSIS

Signs of TB

• If you have persistent cough, with or without fever, chest pain, spitting of blood
• Weakness and loss of weight and appetite, Then you could be suffering from TB.

Do Not Panic

• Did you know that?
• TB is 100% curable
• TB is detected by doing simple blood test, sputum and x-ray examination.
  TB patients can make use of facilities at all Government Hospitals/dispensaries.
• TB treatment has to be taken regularly and for full duration as per doctor's advice (6-8 months)
• For treatment of TB the patient need not be hospitalized.
• Treatment of TB does not prevent you from pursuing your daily activities.
• TB treatment is simple and painless
• TB drugs are to be taken once daily.

DO's

• Take your drugs regularly and see your doctor regularly.
• TB drugs (e.g.: Rifampicin) will color your urine red.
• Eat a well-balanced meal
• STOP drinking alcohol
• STOP smoking

The side effects listed below are serious

Anyone having any of these symptoms should call their doctor or nurse immediately:

• no appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• yellowish skin or eyes
• fever for 3 or more days
• abdominal pain
• tingling fingers or toes
• skin rash
• easy bleeding
• aching joints
• dizziness
• tingling or numbness around the mouth
• easy bruising
• blurred or changed vision
• ringing in the ears
• hearing loss.

The side effects listed below are minor problems

• One TB medicine called Rifampin can turn urine, saliva, or tears orange. The doctor or nurse may advise patients not to wear soft contact lenses because they may get stained.
• Rifampin can also make people more sensitive to the sun. This means they should use a good sunscreen and cover exposed areas so they don't burn.
• Rifampin also makes birth control pills and implants less effective. Women who take Rifampin should use another form of birth control.
• Anyone taking Rifampin as well as methadone (used to treat drug addiction) may have withdrawal symptoms. The doctor or nurse may want to adjust the methadone dosage.

Need of taking Anti-TB drugs for a long period

• It takes at least 6 months for the medicine to kill all the TB bacteria. People usually start feeling well after only a few weeks of treatment.
• As the TB bacteria are still alive in the body. They must continue to take their medicine until all the TB bacteria are dead.
• People who don't continue taking their medicine after they start feeling better or aren't taking their medicine regularly can get into a dangerous situation.
• The TB bacteria will grow again and make them sick for a longer time. The bacteria may also become resistant to the drugs they are taking.
• Therefore they may need new, different drugs to kill the TB bacteria if the old drugs no longer work. These new drugs must be taken for a longer time and usually have more serious side effects.
• If people who were on treatment become infectious again, they can become source of infection to there dear and loved ones.