| 1. What kind of disease is tuberculosis? | | | | this treatment with another. |
| Tuberculosis is a disease caused by a bacterium | | | | It is important that the patient follow the treatment |
| which affects mostly the lungs but can affect the | | | | as prescribed otherwise the bacteria might continue |
| bones, kidney, and other organs too. | | | | to live in the lung and harm the patient. |
| 2. How can the doctor know when a patient has | | | | During this treatment with isoniazid the patient is not |
| tuberculosis? | | | | allowed to drink alcohol as side effects can appear |
| Most of the doctors follow a procedure based on | | | | and interfere with the treatment efficiency. |
| several tests. At first they perform a PPD skin test, | | | | 5. After 6 months is the patient cured? |
| and if this test is positive there is a chance for you | | | | Normally if the patient follows the prescribed |
| to have been infected with tuberculosis. Then a | | | | treatment the tuberculosis should disappear. There |
| thoracic X-ray is done along with a physical exam to | | | | are some cases in which the bacteria is resistant to |
| check out whether you are contagious or not. Most | | | | the prescribed pill and so it is still in the lungs after |
| of the people are PPD positive but this does not | | | | the treatment is done. But tests made at the end of |
| mean they are contagious. | | | | the treatment will show whether the patient is fine |
| 3. PPD positive means I am sick? | | | | or needs another treatment. |
| Normally PPD positive persons are not sick with | | | | 6. What are the symptoms of active tuberculosis? |
| tuberculosis they have the bacteria in their lungs but | | | | The patients might have fever, loss of appetite, night |
| they are not affected by it. As long as the person | | | | sweats, loss of weight and intense cough and fatigue. |
| has an intact immune system the disease will not | | | | 7. How can active tuberculosis be treated? |
| manifest but if their immune system weakens then | | | | The treatment is made out of a drug combination. |
| the bacteria might wake up and manifest. Only then | | | | The following drugs are used in treating active |
| a person is considered to be sick. | | | | tuberculosis: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and |
| 4. How can the tuberculosis infection be treated? | | | | Pyrazinamide. |
| The treatment lasts for 6 months and the patient | | | | These drugs must not be taken with alcohol or |
| has to take every day a pill called isoniazid, and at | | | | acetaminophen because they can cause side effects. |
| the same hour. Every month the patient will go for a | | | | If any of the following appear do not hesitate to call |
| check up and the doctor will prescribe the same | | | | your doctor: nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, skin |
| treatment if there are no side effects from the pill. If | | | | rash, extreme tiredness, jaundice and fever. |
| nausea, or skin rash appear the doctor will replace | | | | |