TB Can be Cured (1991)
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TB Can be Cured |
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What is TB?
"TB" is short for a disease called tuberculosis.
TB is spread by tiny germs that can float in the air. The TB germs
may spray into the air if a person with TB disease of the
lungs or throat coughs, shouts, or sneezes. The people nearby
can breathe TB germs into their lungs.
TB germs can live in your body without making you
sick. This is called TB infection. Your immune system traps
TB germs with special germ fighters. Your germ fighters keep TB
germs from making you sick.
But sometimes, the TB germs can break away and spread.
Then they cause TB disease. The germs can attack the lungs
or other parts of the body. They can go to the kidneys, the brain,
or the spine. If anyone has TB disease, they need medical
help. If they don’t get help, they can die.
If you have TB disease, you may:
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feel weak,
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lose your appetite,
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lose weight,
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have a fever, or
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sweat a lot at night.
These are signs of TB disease. These signs
may last for several weeks. Without treatment, they usually get
worse.
If the TB disease is in your lungs, you may:
You should always cover your mouth when you cough!
If you get TB disease in another part of
the body, the symptoms will be different. Only a doctor can tell
you if you have TB disease.
How do I know if I have TB infection or TB disease?
A skin test is the only way to tell if you
have TB infection. The test is "positive" if
a bump about the size of a pencil eraser or bigger appears on
your arm. This bump means you probably have TB infection.
Other tests can show if you have TB disease.
An x-ray of your chest can tell if there is damage to your lungs
from TB. TB germs may be deep inside your lungs. Phlegm ("flem")
you cough up will be tested in a laboratory to see if the TB germs
are in your lungs.
If TB germs are in your lungs or throat, you can
give TB infection to your family and friends. They can get sick
with TB disease. You may have to be separated from other
people until you can’t spread TB germs. This probably won’t be
for very long, if you take your medicine.
Can TB disease be cured?
Yes! TB disease can be cured by using special
drugs that kill TB germs. But TB germs are strong. It takes at
least six to nine months of medication to wipe them all out. It
is very important that you take all your medicine.
If you stop taking medication too soon, it is a
big problem. The TB germs that are still alive become even stronger.
You may need stronger drugs to kill these "super" TB
germs. This doesn’t have to happen. If you take all of the medicine,
the TB germs will die.
A few people have side effects to anti-TB drugs.
You will get tests to check on this.
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