Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease caused by mycobacteria (Koch's bacilli). The disease has been known since ancient times.. For a long time, the fight against him remained ineffective.. Often the disease affected entire families, the mortality from it was very high.. This has led to many misconceptions about the contagiousness and possibility of curing tuberculosis..

Methods of infection and the specifics of the course of tuberculosisToday, about a third of the world's population is infected with Koch's bacilli - which does not mean that all these people are sick. In fact, pathological processes develop only in 5-7% of infected people.. The reason is that a normally functioning immune system is quite capable of keeping the causative agent of the disease under control and not allowing it to harm the body.. But if the immune system weakens, the bacillus has the opportunity to multiply, destroy tissues and poison the body with the products of its vital activity.. The following factors contribute to the development of an active pathological process:.

malnutrition, unbalanced diet low in protein and vitamins;

physical and emotional fatigue;

stress;

permanent stay in a room with a poor microclimate (unventilated, inaccessible to sunlight);

the presence of chronic ailments (peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, diabetes mellitus, etc.).

frequent colds;

bad habits (nicotine, alcohol or drug addiction).

The risk of contracting tuberculosis is very high for people living in uncomfortable premises, in conditions of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions..

The danger of infection with the Koch bacillus is also in the fact that this microorganism reproduces rather slowly, without showing itself for a long time.. In addition, mycobacterium is extremely resistant to negative environmental influences (heat, cold, humidity).. In ordinary house dust, it can remain viable for several years.. Once in the body, which has a properly functioning immune system, the pathogen often does not die, but goes into a "

No less dangerous is that the signs of the onset of the disease are not very disturbing for people infected with tuberculosis.. When the pathological process is already underway, a person has:.

night sweats;

decrease in working capacity;

weakness;

sustained increase in body temperature (not higher than 37.5 ° C);

loss of appetite, weight loss;

mild but persistent cough.

Source: depositphotos. comSuch sensations can easily be mistaken for a consequence of overwork or a slight cold. Patients often delay the visit to the doctor and start the disease. Later, chest pains and symptoms of an allergic reaction to toxins secreted by bacilli appear.. At this point, the lung tissue is already undergoing destruction and the patient needs serious medical treatment..

The most common myths about tuberculosis Widespread misconceptions are associated with the degree of contagiousness of the disease, and with the prospects for its cure. The most common statements are:.

Tuberculosis is a disease of the poor and homeless. It's like this and it's not like that. It is clear that for people who are malnourished, live in unsanitary conditions and lead an antisocial lifestyle, the possibility of becoming infected is very high.. But it does not follow from this that each of them will get sick or become a carrier of mycobacteria.. On the other hand, a successful person who works a lot and hard, is prone to stress and is often in public places, is also not guaranteed health, since his immune system is not necessarily in perfect condition.. It is not a priori protected from infection or from the development of the disease.;

“Every person who gets Koch’s bacillus gets sick”. This is not true. The pathological process develops in 5-7 people out of 100 carriers;

“All TB patients are contagious”. The statement is not only unfair, but also quite cruel.. In fact, only people with an open form of pulmonary tuberculosis are acutely contagious.. But even with constant close proximity to such a patient, a person with a high immune status is likely to remain healthy.;

Tuberculosis is an exclusively pulmonary disease. In 95% of cases, Koch's bacillus affects the respiratory system.. However, there are extrapulmonary forms of the disease.. In these cases, the genitourinary system, gastrointestinal organs, joints and bones, lymph nodes, eyes, skin, or central nervous system are affected (tuberculous meningitis);

" In a way it really is.. Despite the fact that today about 40% of people suffering from this disease are fully restored to work as a result of treatment, mortality from tuberculosis is still high.. In addition, even cured patients should be observed by a phthisiatrician for several years, since it is impossible to remove all Koch's bacilli from the body and the likelihood of relapse is not excluded..

Source: depositphotos. comMany believe that the widespread spread of tuberculosis is now possible only in developing countries, and in the most civilized countries it is already almost defeated. In fact, any drop in the standard of living and a decrease in attention to anti-epidemic measures leads to a surge in morbidity and an increase in mortality from this disease.. This happened, for example, in Ukraine, where tuberculosis has spread so much that in 1995 WHO was forced to recognize this country as an epidemic zone..

Tuberculosis treatment: successes and challenges As with many other diseases, the success of a cure for tuberculosis depends on timely diagnosis, and this is far from easy.. At the onset of the disease, the presence of a pathogen in the body can manifest itself in the form of a positive reaction to the Mantoux test.. Unfortunately, this also happens in the absence of a tuberculous process, and vice versa, in some cases, patients experience a negative reaction. The most informative diagnostic methods (fluorography, x-ray of the lungs, sputum examination) give reliable results only at later stages.. Extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis are even more difficult to diagnose.. As a result, adequate treatment is often started late..

Anti-tuberculosis therapy is carried out using a whole range of drugs that are active against Koch's bacillus, but the treatment is not always successful. The fact is that mycobacteria are able to develop resistance to antibiotics.. Now cases of infection with such " In addition, taking anti-TB drugs is not a pleasant occupation.. Many of these drugs are highly toxic. As a rule, they are taken in parallel with hepatoprotectors and agents that protect the stomach and intestines, but side effects still occur frequently..

Usually, drug therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis gives a result no earlier than six months later, and patients with extrapulmonary forms of the disease can feel relief only after 9-12 months.. Diseases such as osteoarticular tuberculosis require surgical intervention in a significant percentage of cases..

To restore performance, it is very important that the patient receives enhanced nutrition.. His diet should contain a sufficient amount of animal protein, vitamins and trace elements.. After the main course of therapy, patients with tuberculosis are shown long-term sanatorium treatment.

The importance of tuberculosis prevention The main preventive measure against tuberculosis is the BCG vaccine.. It is carried out for newborns at the age of 3-7 days, and then (in the absence of contraindications) for children 7 and 14 years old. However, this procedure may have a negative effect.. Some experts believe that it was the widespread dissemination of BCG vaccination that led to the emergence of varieties of mycobacteria that are resistant to drugs.. It should be noted that vaccinated people also fall ill with tuberculosis.. This means that such prevention does not create reliable immune protection against the disease..

Tuberculosis is one of the diseases, the spread of which is associated with social factors.. Therefore, it is very important that the state takes an active part in the fight against the disease.. In the 90s of the XX century, the control of the authorities over the work of anti-epidemic services weakened.. In combination with an increase in the number of socially disadvantaged migrants from neighboring countries, this gave Russia a noticeable surge in the incidence of tuberculosis and an increase in mortality.. Now the situation has improved somewhat, but this disease in our country is by no means defeated..

For the prevention of tuberculosis, the growth of the well-being of the entire state and each of its citizens is of paramount importance.. In addition, it is necessary to instill in people a culture of personal safety from childhood.. This concept includes adherence to sanitary and hygienic standards, the habit of proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, attention to one's own health.. If each of us will regularly undergo diagnostics (at least do fluorography), go to the doctor in time if you feel unwell and follow his prescriptions, the risk of spreading diseases such as tuberculosis will significantly decrease..

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