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