Khabarha wa Nazarha

Kholaseheei az Danestanihayeh Mofid

Khabarha wa Nazarha

Kholaseheei az Danestanihayeh Mofid

بیماری هپاتیت c

- اظهارات آقای داکتر سروری درباره بیماری هپاتیت c
- گیاهان دارویی
- دانستنی هایی از دنیای طب و طبابت
- سوال های پزشکی و بهداشتی
- تغذیه اصولی و درست

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هپاتیت c:

ابتدا اظهارات آقای داکتر سروری درباره این بیماری:

راه های انتقال

عامل و ایجاد کننده این بیماری، یکی از ویروس های هپاتیت است.Sample Image
انتقال این بیماری شباهت زیادی به هپاتیت وهمچنین ایدز دارد (از طریق خون به بدن )

1.تماس های جنسی
2.استفاده از سرنگ های مشترک در معتادان تزریقی
3.انتقال از مادر به جنین
4.حجامت در آرایشگاه ها، و مراکز غیر صحی

متاسفانه این بیماری خیلی سریع مزمن می شود. در 85 درصد افرادی که در معرض این بیماری قرار می گیرند ویروس بیماری به صورت پایدار در بدن باقی می ماند و به حد مزمن می رسد و حتی ممکن است تا پایان عمر هم در بدن باقی بماند. 15 درصد باقی مانده هم ویروس از بدنشان پاک می شود.
مزمن شدن متأسفانه با عوارضی از جمله مشکلات کبدی و حتی سرطان کبدی روبه روست که در نهایت منجر به مرگ نیز می گردد.

علائم بیماری

به لحاظ علایم بالینی مثل همۀ هپاتیت ها از یک طیف کاملاً بی علامت شروع می شود.

علائم عمومی این بیماری : زردی ، تهوع، استفراغ، بی اشتهایی و بی حالی، تب، ناراحتی های گوارشی، اسهال و کمبود پروتئین بدن و ایجاد ورم عمومی بدن می باشد.

راه تشخیص بیماری

برای تشخیص باید آزمایش هایی انجام شود و با توجه به تشخیص دقیق، درمان های خاص آن صورت بگیرد.

برای درمان از داروهای ضد ویروس می توانیم استفاده نمائیم.
در رابطه با رژیم غذایی باید اصلاحاتی صورت بگیرد که مایع درمانی یکی از این راه ها است. مصرف الکل و مشروبات الکلی همچون سم است و در واقع به مثابه امضای حکم مرگ این بیماری ها می تواند باشد.
و بالاخره با توجه به راه های انتقال این بیماری باید از مبتلا شدن به آن پیشگیری کرد.


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گیاهان دارویی
زنجبیل

زنجبیل، گیاهی چند ساله است که ساقه آن به بلندی 30 سانتی متر تا یک متراست. شکل ظاهری این گیاه به نی شباهت دارد.Sample Image
این گیاه به حالت طبیعی در نواحی شرقی هندوستان می روید و در سریلانکا و چین هم یافت می شود. پرورش زنجبیل در جنوب آسیا، ژاپن، آفریقای شمالی و مکزیک معمول است. زنجبیل بوی قوی، معطر و مطبوع دارد. این گیاه از نظر خواص غذایی گرم است.
این گیاه را (نیم گرم تا یک گرم) معمولاً مخلوط با دارچین یا به شکل دم کرده، گاهی هم با نعناع و وانیل مصرف می کنند.

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دانستنی های طبی

معرفی بیماری فوبی یا فوبیا (نوعی هراس بی جا)

آیا هرگز شنیدید یا دیدید که شخصی از بعضی جاها بی خودی بترسد؟ آری افرادی هستند که از جمعیت یا از برخورد با دیگران وحشت دارند. چنین حالتی را واکنش فوبیک یا واکنش هراس بی جا می گویند.
آیا به راستی چنین افرادی بیمار هستند؟ نه آنها مبتلا به یک ناراحتی عاطفی هستند. چرا که به هرحال چیزی وجود دارد که آنها را پریشان حال می کند یا در گذشته ممکن است با مسایلی برخورد کرده اند که این پریشانی را در نهادشان باقی گذاشته است. اینها مدام سعی می کنند تا چاره ای برای درد عاطفی خودشان پیدا کنند. درست همان طور که انسان برای درد بدنی خودش به دنبال درمان می گردد.
گونه ای از این واکنش ها عامل تولید و گسترش فوبی یا یک ترس بی جا وغیرعادی از چیز خاص است. مثل ترس از شلوغی و یا جاهای خلوت.
از نکات جالب درباره این افراد این است که بیم شان از چیزهایی است که خود قادرند از آنها اجتناب کنند مثلاً کسی آنها را مجبور نمی کند به جاهای پر جمعیت یا برعکس به نقاط خلوت بروند. اگرهم نروند حالشان خوب است و هرگز نگرانی نخواهند داشت. اما این که چرا باید شخصی مثلاً از جاهای شلوغ یا وسیع احساس ترس و بیم داشته باشد؟ حقیقت این است که چنین بیمی منشأ در جایی دارد چه بسا که این شخص در دوران خردسالی از چیزی احساس ترس و بیم می کرده یا چه بسا که عامل این بیم خص، شی ء و یا چیزی باشد که در کودکی هم او را دوست می داشته و به جهتی هم از آن می ترسیده است .
این تضاد دوست داشتن و ترسیدن باعث می شود که بعدها وی چیز دیگری را به عنوان عامل ترس، جایگزین آن مورد کند. مثلأ جاهای شلوغ را نماد یا یاد آور آن قرار بدهد. لذا از آن موقعیت ها پرهیز می کند و به قول خودش از حقیقتی گریخته است.

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سوال از شما و جواب از محمد هاشم معتمدی

سوال : برادری از گرفتگی عضلات پایش شکایت دارد. این مسأله به چه علت است؟
جواب:گرفتگی عضلات مخصوصأ یک طرفه از فعالیت های زیادی مانند دویدن است که باعث تجمع ماده ای در عضله می شود واین ماده درعضله باعث ایجاد درد شده که با استراحت بهبود می یابد.
استراحت باعث می شود که این ماده در خون تجزیه شده و دفع شود. بعضی مواقع اگر درد یک طرفه باشد به احتمال زیاد یکی از اعصاب مهره های کمر مشکل دارد. چنین افرادی که به گرفتگی عضله یک طرفه دائمی رو به رو می شوند باید از طریق عکس از مهره های کمر آنان ارزیابی صورت بگیرد. عواملی چون بیماری آرتروز و ایجاد فاصله بین مهره های کمر و یا نزدیکی کمر روی عصب سیاتیک فشار وارد می کند و وقتی فشار عصب سیاتیک به وجود آمد عضله دچار گرفتگی می شود بنابراین چنین افرادی باید به متخصص ارتوپدی و متخصص اعصاب مراجعه نموده، از فعالیت های سنگین خودداری کرده، و از داروهای مخصوص استفاده کنند. کمبود پتاسیم هم می تواند باعث گرفتگی عضلات شود که موز به عنوان دارا بودن پتاسیم فراوان می تواند مؤثر باشد. هم چنین مصرف گوجه فرنگی و سبزیجات نه تنها در بیماری های گوارشی وهاضمه بلکه برای گرفتگی عضلانی هم مؤثراست. بیماری هایی که نیاز به درمان دارویی دارد و باید طبق تجویز پزشک مصرف شود.

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تغذیه

ناراحتی معده

ناراحتی معده گاهی از سوزش معده، سوزش قلب و سوزش سینه فهمیده می شود که این حالت باعث ترش کردن، درد گرفتن و سوزش سینه می شود که گاهی ممکن است با سوزش قلب اشتباه گرفته شود و فرد فکر کند که قلبش گرفته است و احساس یک تکه سنگ در قسمت بالای شکم کند.
درد پشت، شانه، خسته شدن کمر و بعضی ازعلایم دیگر از نشانه های دیگر ناراحتی معده است .
اما در این ارتباط به چند توصیه توجه کنید :

1- ادویه جات به خصوص فلفل را کمتر مصرف کنید.Sample Image
2- تعداد وعده های غذایی را بیشتر کنید و در هر وعده غذایی مقدار کمی غذا مصرف کنید.
3- در صورتی که اضافه وزن دارید وزنتان را کم کنید.
4- لباس تنگ نپوشید و با شال و یا کمربند شکم خود را نبندید.
5- بلافاصله بعد از خوردن غذا دراز نکشید. پیش ازغذا و یا بعد از غذا، مطالعه نکنید.
6- حالت آرامش را مخصوصأ هنگام غذا خوردن، حفظ کنید. (سعی کنید که آرام باشید و عصبانی نشوید.)
7- مصرف چای و قهوه را کم کنید.
8- حبوبات خصوصأ نخود و لوبیا را حداقل 6 ساعت در آب خیس کنید. آبش را دور بریزید و بعد آن را مصرف کنید.
9- غذاها را زیاد داغ مصرف نکنید.غذا را به آرامی بخورید، خوب بجوید و مصرف نوشابه های گاز دار و شکلات و مواد رنگی را هم حتمأ قطع کنید.
10-غذاهایی را که ایجاد نفخ می کند مصرف نکنید. این غذاها در افراد مختلف متفاوت هستند، بنابراین دقت کنید تا زمانی که احساس سوزش در سینه دارید ، با خوردن چه غذاهایی احساس نفخ می کنید . البته بعد از اینکه حدود 4 تا 6 ماه این غذاها را ترک کردید و ناراحتی معده شما به طور کلی خوب شد می توانید یکی یکی و در مقدار کم ، این غذاها را مصرف کنید. 11- بعضی خوراکی ها درد معده را تسکین می دهند، به طور مثال خوردن یک لیوان شیر قبل از خواب در بیشتر افراد باعث کاهش سوزش معده و خوابی آرام در طول شب می شود.
12- نعناع، عرق بید مشک و عرق بهار نارنج، معمولأ موجب تسکین درد معده می شود .
13- از موادی که دارای جوش شیرین هستند دوری کنید و سعی کنید از نان های تخمیر شده استفاده کنید. گوشت کباب شده روی شعله مستقیم را مصرف نکنید . ممکن است این غذا موجب شدت بیماری تان شود.
حتی اگر درد معده تان هم کم شد ولی باز هم این غذاها باعث اختلالات معده می شود.
مصرف سگرت را قطع کنید. مصرف آسپرین هم ناراحتی معده را بیشتر می کند، بنا براین تا حد امکان از مصرفش خودداری کنید.

بیماری سل

Questions and Answers About

TB

 

 

 

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

 

What is TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis; the bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the world.

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get TB disease.

People with active TB disease can be treated and cured if they seek medical help. Even better, people with latent TB infection can take medicine so that they will not develop active TB disease.

Why is TB a problem today?

Starting in the 1940s, scientists discovered the first of several medicines now used to treat TB. As a result, TB slowly began to decrease in the world. But in the 1970s and early 1980s TB control efforts were neglected. As a result, between 1985 and 1992, the number of TB cases increased. But TB is still a problem.

How is TB spread?

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not so infectious.

People with active TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers.

What is latent TB infection?

In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB infection. People with latent TB infection

• have no symptoms

• don’t feel sick

• can’t spread TB to others

• usually have a positive skin test reaction

• can develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB infection

Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems, the bacteria become active and cause TB disease.

What is active TB disease?

TB bacteria become active if the immune system can’t stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason.

Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions:

substance abuse

diabetes mellitus

silicosis

cancer of the head or neck

leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease

severe kidney disease

low body weight

certain medical treatments (such as corticosteroid treatment or

Organ transplants)

specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease

Symptoms of TB depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs. TB in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:

a bad cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks

pain in the chest

coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)

Other symptoms of active TB disease are

weakness or fatigue

weight loss

no appetite

chills

fever

sweating at night

The Difference between Latent TB Infection and Active TB Disease

A Person with Latent TB Infection Active TB Disease

Has no symptoms

Does not feel sick

Cannot spread TB to others

Usually has a positive skin test

Has a normal chest x-ray and sputum test

Has symptoms that may include: - a bad cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks - pain in the chest - coughing up blood or sputum - weakness or fatigue - weight loss - no appetite - chills - fever - sweating at night smear or culture

May spread TB to others

Usually has a positive skin test

May have an abnormal chest x-ray, or positive sputum

LATENT TB INFECTION

 

How can I get tested for TB?

You should get tested for TB if

You have spent time with a person known to have active TB disease or suspected to have active TB disease; or

You have HIV infection or another condition that puts you at high risk for active TB disease; or

You think you might have active TB disease; or

You are from a country where active TB disease is very common (most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia); or

You live somewhere in the United States that active TB disease is more common such as a homeless shelter, migrant farm camp, prison or jail, and some nursing homes; or

You inject illegal drugs.

What if I have been vaccinated with BCG? BCG is a vaccine for TB. It is given to infants and small children in countries where TB is common. BCG vaccine does not always protect people from getting TB.

If you were vaccinated with BCG, you may have a positive reaction to a TB skin test. This reaction may be due to the BCG vaccine itself or due to infection with the TB bacteria. Your positive reaction probably means you have been infected with TB bacteria if

You recently spent time with a person who has active TB disease; or

You are from an area of the world where active TB disease is very common (such as most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia); or

You spend time where TB disease is common (homeless shelters, migrant camps, drug-treatment centers, health care clinics, jails and prisons).

If I have latent TB infection, how can I keep from developing active TB disease? Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. But some people who have latent TB infection are more likely to develop active TB disease than others. These people are at high risk for active TB disease. They include

people with HIV infection • people who became infected with TB bacteria in the last 2 years

babies and young children

people who inject illegal drugs

people who are sick with other diseases that weaken the immune system

elderly people

people who were not treated correctly for TB in the past

If you have latent TB infection (a positive TB skin test reaction) and you are in one of these high-risk groups, you need to take medicine to keep from developing active TB disease. This is called treatment for latent TB infection. There are several treatment options.

The medicine usually taken for the treatment of latent TB infection is called isoniazid (INH). INH kills the TB bacteria that are in the body. If you take your medicine as instructed by your doctor, it can keep you from developing active TB disease. Children and people with HIV infection may need to take INH for a longer time.

Because there are less bacteria in a person with latent TB infection, treatment is much easier. Usually, only one drug is needed to treat latent TB infection. A person with active TB disease has a large amount of TB bacteria in the body. Several drugs are needed to treat active TB disease.

Sometimes people are given treatment for latent TB infection even if their skin test reaction is not positive. This is often done with infants, children, and HIV infected people who have recently spent time with someone with active TB disease. This is because they are at very high risk of developing active TB disease soon after they become infected with TB bacteria.

It is important that you take all the pills as prescribed. If you start taking INH, you will need to see your doctor on a regular schedule. He or she will check on how you are doing. Some people have serious side effects from INH. If you have any of the following side effects, call your doctor or nurse right away:

no appetite

nausea

vomiting

yellowish skin or eyes

fever for 3 or more days

abdominal pain

tingling in the fingers and toes

Warning: Drinking alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, and liquor) while taking INH can be dangerous.

People who have latent TB infection need to know the symptoms of active TB disease. If they develop symptoms of active TB disease, they should see a doctor right away. What if I have HIV infection?

A person can have latent TB infection for years. But if that person’s immune system gets weak, the infection can quickly turn into active TB disease. Also, if a person who has a weak immune system spends time with someone with active TB disease, he or she may become infected with TB bacteria and quickly develop active TB disease.

Because HIV infection weakens the immune system, people with latent TB infection and HIV infection are at very high risk of developing active TB disease. All persons with HIV infection should be tested to find out if they have latent TB infection. If they have latent TB infection, they need treatment as soon as possible to prevent them from developing active TB disease. If they have active TB disease, they must take medicine to cure the disease.

Active TB disease can be prevented and cured, even in people with HIV infection.

 

ACTIVE TB DISEASE

 How is active TB disease treated?

There is good news for people with active TB disease! It can almost always be cured with medicine. But the medicine must be taken as the doctor tells you.

If you have active TB disease, you will need to take several different medicines which will do a better job of killing all of the bacteria and preventing them from becoming resistant to the medicines.

The most common medicines used to cure TB are

isoniazid (INH)

rifampicin (RIF)

ethambutol

pyrazinamide

streptomycin

If you have active TB disease of the lungs or throat, you are probably infectious. You need to stay home from work or school so that you don’t spread TB bacteria to other people. After taking your medicine for a few weeks, you will feel better and you may no longer be infectious to others. Your doctor will tell you when you can return to work or school or visit with friends. This is because there are many bacteria to be killed. Taking several medicines and having active TB disease should not stop you from leading a normal life. When you are no longer infectious or feeling sick, you can do the same things you did before you had active TB disease. The medicine that you are taking should not affect your strength, sexual function, or ability to work. If you take your medicine as your doctor tells you, the medicine will kill all the TB bacteria. This will keep you from becoming sick again.

What are the side effects of medicines for TB?

If you are taking medicine for TB, you should take it as directed by your doctor. Occasionally, the medicines may cause side effects. Some side effects are minor problems. Others are more serious. If you have a serious side effect, call your doctor immediately. You may be told to stop taking your medicine or to return to the clinic for tests.

The side effects listed below are serious. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor or nurse immediately:

no appetite

nausea

vomiting

yellowish skin or eyes

fever for 3 or more days

abdominal pain

tingling fingers or toes

skin rash

easy bleeding

aching joints

dizziness

tingling or numbness around the mouth

easy bruising

blurred or changed vision

ringing in the ears

hearing loss

The side effects listed below are minor problems. If you have any of these side effects, you can continue taking your medicine:

Rifampicin can turn urine, saliva, or tears orange. The doctor may advise you not to wear soft contact lenses because they may get stained.

Rifampicin can make you more sensitive to the sun. This means you should use a good sunscreen and cover exposed areas so you don’t burn.

Rifampicin makes birth control pills and implants less effective. Women who take rifampicin should use another form of birth control.

If you are taking rifampicin as well as methadone (used to treat drug addiction), you may have withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may need to adjust your methadone dosage.

 

Why do I need to take TB medicine regularly?

TB bacteria die very slowly. It takes at least 8 months for the medicine to kill all the TB bacteria. You will probably start feeling well after only a few weeks of treatment. But beware! The TB bacteria are still alive in your body. You must continue to take your medicine until all the TB bacteria are dead, even though you may feel better and have no more symptoms of active TB disease.

If you don’t continue taking your medicine or you aren’t taking your medicine regularly, this can be very dangerous. The TB bacteria will grow again and you will remain sick for a longer time. The bacteria may also become resistant to the medicines you are taking.

If you become infectious again, you could give TB bacteria to your family, friends, or anyone else who spends time with you. It is very important to take your medicine the way your doctor tells you.

How can I remember to take my medicine?

The only way to get well is to take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. This may not be easy! You will be taking your medicine for a long time (8 months), so you should get into a routine. Here are some ways to remember to take your medicine:

Participate in the directly observed therapy (DOT) program at your health department.

Take your pills at the same time every day — for example; you can take them before eating breakfast, during a coffee break, or after brushing your teeth.

Ask a family member or a friend to remind you to take your pills.

Mark off each day on a calendar as you take your medicine.

Put your pills in a weekly pill dispenser. Keep it by your bed or in your purse or pocket.

NOTE: Remember to keep all medicine out of reach of children.

If you forget to take your pills one day, skip that dose and take the next scheduled dose. Tell your doctor that you missed a dose. You may also call your doctor for instructions.

What is directly observed therapy (DOTS)?

The best way to remember to take your medicine is to get directly observed therapy (DOT). If you get DOT, you will meet with a health care worker or supporter every day. You will meet at a place you both agree on. This can be the TB clinic, your home or work, or any other convenient location. You will take your medicine at this place while the health care worker or supporter watches.

DOT helps in several ways. The health care worker or supporter can help you remember to take your medicine and complete your treatment. This means you will get well as soon as possible.

Even if you are not getting DOT, you must be checked at different times to make sure everything is going well. You should see your doctor regularly while you are taking your medicine. This will continue until you are cured.

How can I keep from spreading TB?

The most important way to keep from spreading TB is to take all your medicine, exactly as directed by your doctor. You also need to keep all of your clinic appointments! Your doctor needs to see how you are doing. You may need another test of the phlegm you may cough up. These tests will show whether the medicine is working. They will also show whether you can still give TB bacteria to others. Be sure to tell the doctor about anything you think is wrong.

If you are infectious while you are at home, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself and others near you. Your doctor may tell you to follow these guidelines to protect yourself and others:

The most important thing is to take your medicine.

Always cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Put the tissue in a closed bag and throw it away.

Do not go to work or school. Separate yourself from others and avoid close contact with any-one. Sleep in a bedroom away from other family members.

Air out your room often to the outside of the building. TB spreads in small closed spaces where air doesn’t move. Put a fan in your window to blow out (exhaust) air that may be filled with TB bacteria. If you open other windows in the room, the fan also will pull in fresh air. This will reduce the chances that TB bacteria will stay in the room and infect someone who breathes the air.

Remember, TB is spread through the air. People cannot get infected with TB bacteria through handshakes, sitting on toilet seats, or sharing dishes and utensils with someone who has TB.

After you take medicine for about 2 or 3 weeks, you may no longer be able to spread TB bacteria to others. If your doctor agrees, you will be able to go back to your daily routine. Remember, you will get well only if you complete your course.

Think about people who may have spent time with you, such as family members, close friends, and coworkers. TB is especially dangerous for children and people with HIV infection. If infected with TB bacteria, these people need medicine right away to keep from developing active TB disease.

What is multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB)?

If you do not take your medicine as your doctor tells you, the TB bacteria may become resistant to a certain medicine. This means that the medicine can no longer kill the bacteria. Drug resistance is more common in people who:

have spent time with someone with drug-resistant active TB disease

do not take their medicine regularly

do not take all of their medicine as told by their doctor

develop active TB disease again, after having taken TB medicine in the past

come from areas where drug-resistant TB is common

Sometimes the bacteria become resistant to two or more of the most important medicines: INH and RIF. This is called multidrug-resistant TB, or MDR TB. This is a very serious problem. People with MDR TB disease must be treated with special medicines. These medicines are not as good as the usual medicines for TB and they may cause more side effects. Also, most people with MDR TB disease must see a TB expert who can closely observe their treatment to make sure it is working.

People who have spent time with someone sick with MDR TB disease can become infected with these multidrug-resistant bacteria. If they have a positive skin test reaction, they may be given medicine to keep them from developing MDR TB disease. This is very important for people who are at high risk of developing MDR TB disease, such as children and HIV-infected people.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS RELATED TO TB

Active TB disease

BCG

Chest x-ray

Contact

Culture

Directly observed therapy (DOT)

Extra-pulmonary TB

INH or isoniazid

Latent TB infection

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Pulmonary TB

Resistant bacteria

Smear

Sputum

– phlegm coughed up from deep inside the lungs. Sputum is examined for TB bacteria using a smear; part of the sputum can also be used to do a culture.
– a test to see whether there are TB bacteria in your phlegm. To do this test, lab workers smear the phlegm on a glass slide, stain the slide with a special stain, and look for any TB bacteria on the slide. This test usually takes 1 day to get the results.
– bacteria that can no longer be killed by a routine treatment.
– active TB disease that occurs in the lungs, usually producing a cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks. Most active TB disease is pulmonary.
– bacteria that cause latent TB infection and active TB disease.
–active TB disease caused by bacteria resistant to two or more of the most important medicines: Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin.
– a condition in which TB bacteria are alive but inactive in the body. People with latent TB infection have no symptoms, don’t feel sick, can’t spread TB to others, and usually have a positive skin test reaction. But they may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB infection.
– a medicine used to prevent active TB disease in people who have latent TB infection. INH is also one of the four medicines used to treat active TB disease.
– active TB disease in any part of the body other than the lungs (for example, the kidney, spine, brain, or lymph nodes).
– a way of helping patients take their medicine for TB. If you get DOT, you will meet with a health care worker or supporter every day. You will meet at a place you both agree on. This can be the TB clinic, your home or work, or any other convenient location. You will take your medicine while the health care worker or supporter watches.
– a test to see whether there are TB bacteria in your phlegm or other body fluids.
– a person who has spent time with a person with infectious TB.
– a picture of the inside of your chest. A chest x-ray is made by exposing a film to x-rays that pass through your chest. A doctor can look at this film to see whether TB bacteria have damaged your lungs.
– a vaccine for TB named after the French scientists who developed it, Calmette and Guérin. Given to infants and small children in countries where TB is common.
– an illness in which TB bacteria are multiplying and attacking different parts of the body. The symptoms of active TB disease include weakness, weight loss, fever, no appetite, chills, and sweating at night. Other symptoms of active TB disease depend on where in the body the bacteria are growing. If active TB disease is in the lungs (pulmonary TB), the symptoms may include a bad cough, pain in the chest, and coughing up blood. A person with active TB disease may be infectious and spread TB to others.

INTRODUCTION

What is TB

Why is TB a problem today

How is TB spread

What is latent TB infection

What is active TB disease

 

LATENT TB INFECTION

How can I get tested for TB

What if I have a positive test for TB

What if I have been vaccinated with BCG

If I have latent TB infection, how can I keep from developing active TB disease

What if I have HIV infection

 

ACTIVE TB DISEASE

How is active TB disease treated

What are the side effects of medicines for TB

Why do I need to take TB medicine regularly

How can I remember to take my TB medicine

What is directly observed therapy

How can I keep from spreading TB

What is multidrug-resistant TB