2021 March Newsletter

On 24 March we observe World Tuberculosis Day, which places the spotlight on this curable and preventable disease. Below is a list of some of the important  facts about TB:

• Tuberculosis, or TB as it’s commonly known, is contagious and spreads from person to person through the air when a person who already has lung TB coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings.
• TB usually affects the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body like the brain or the spine. The symptoms of TB include feeling weak, weight loss, fever and night sweats. TB of the lungs may cause coughing, chest pain, or coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on the part of the body that TB affects.
• Not everyone who is infected with TB will get sick. There are two types of TB – latent TB and active TB.
• If you have latent TB, you have no symptoms and are not contagious because the TB bacteria in your body is It is important to remember though that it can turn into active TB, so treatment is still important.
• Active TB makes you sick and can spread to others.
• Treatment involves a month’s long course of antimicrobial drugs that need to be taken diligently. Again this is important because, without treatment, TB can result in death.
• Those with a weakened immune system, from the likes of HIV and cancer, are more at risk.
• A TB test can be conducted at clinics and hospitals.

Should you be feeling anxious and or need any further information about TB,  contact  LifeAssist