| Tuberculosis is an infection caused by the Koch | | | | After diagnosing TB, doctors have to test what |
| bacillus, it primarily affects the lungs and it is | | | | drugs will be most efficient against the particular |
| contagious, healthy persons receiving the infection if | | | | strain of the TB bacteria, using genetic engineering |
| living or working in the same place with the infected | | | | techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
| person. By coughing, the infected person spreads the | | | | To prevent the spread of TB in other people, health |
| germs into the air, and others inhale them. | | | | authorities have ordered that every child to get a |
| One way to diagnose TB is by performing a skin test | | | | shot of the bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine. |
| called the intra-dermal reaction of tuberculin. The | | | | This is a vaccine prepared of a weakened Tb germ, |
| person that is suspected to be or to have been | | | | and it is considered to be the most effective vaccine |
| infected with TB is considered to have developed a | | | | in preventing childhood cases of TB. |
| hypersensitivity to the TB germ. | | | | Other general preventing methods of spreading the |
| The test consists in injecting into the skin a purified | | | | TB is hospitalizing the infected person, and practically |
| protein derived from the TB germ. After more then | | | | isolating it from those who are healthy. Treatment |
| 48 hours the skin area will present a bump. If the | | | | must be followed at least 6 months constantly |
| bump is large, the test is considered to be positive, | | | | because interrupting the treatment could lead to |
| meaning that the TB infection has occurred. | | | | spreading the disease in other organs, like: kidneys, |
| Even if the test is negative, it should be repeated | | | | intestinal tract, and lymph nodes, and even leading to |
| after a while, because the test is not a 100 percent | | | | the death of the infected person. |
| accurate. | | | | In treating TB, doctors use a combination of |
| Another method of diagnosing TB is performing a | | | | antibiotics because using only one drug could lead to |
| thoracic X-Ray which shows where in the lungs is the | | | | the bacterial resistance to this drug. The drugs used |
| infection localized and how greatly it is expanded. | | | | nowadays are: isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and |
| If the suspected person coughs, doctors take the | | | | ethambutol, in different combinations. |
| sputum and with the help of the microscope they | | | | Generally if the treatment is followed all the way, a |
| search for the TB germs in the sputum. This is quite | | | | person can heal without problems, and reintegrate |
| an accurate method of diagnosing TB. | | | | within the society in about 6 to 9 months. |