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What is the extent of the problem?
- One third of the world's population is infected with the T.B germ (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis)
- Left untreated, a person with active TB can infect between 10 and 15 people in a year despite the fact that TB is curable, it kills almost 2 million people per year worldwide.
- South Africa is one of the 22 high-burden countries with KwaZulu-Natal as one of the provinces with a large number of TB cases
- 80% of victims are between 15 and 49 - the most economically productive years of their lives
- TB carries a direct cost to the health services and an indirect cost to the family and the community
Why more and more people are getting T.B
- TB is airborne
- Some people with TB do not always finish taking their TB medicines, so they never get cured
- Some people with infectious TB do not come for testing, so they spread it without knowing it
Many people cannot easily fight TB because:
- They are poor an they do not eat well
- They drink to much alcohol, or smoke to much
- They have diseases like HIV, Diabetes, etc
How is TB spread?
- This is determined by the concentration of TB germs in the lungs and their spread into the surrounding air
- Patients with TB of the lungs in whom the germs are so numerous they can be seen by a microscopic examination of sputum specimens (smear positive) are the most infectious
- The infectious tuberculosis patient expels germs into the air in tiny droplets when coughing or sneezing
- These droplets may remain in the air for several hours
How does TB infection develop into TB disease (active/infectious TB?)
- People become infected with TB when they inhale the droplets with TB germs (from coughing, sneezing), but they do not necessarily suffer from TB
- They can only suffer from TB if their immune system becomes week and cannot stop the germs from multiplying and causing damage to the lungs
How does a person know if they have TB?
Most frequent symptoms of TB
- Persistent cough for 3 weeks or more
- Sputum production which my be blood-stained
- Shortness of breath and chest pains
- Loss of appetite and weight
- General feeling of tiredness and illness
- Night sweats and fever
Someone presenting with these symptoms, more especially the cough, should go to a clinic for free TB testing
How do we test for TB?
- Every individual suspected of having TB must have an examination of sputum to determine whether or not they have infectious active TB
- After the suspected individual had coughed sputum and not saliva into a specimen bottle, the sputum it taken to the lab for testing
How is TB treated?
- The department of health has implemented D.O.T.S. (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) strategy - recommended by the WHO
- This strategy ensures detection and cure of TB (The D.O.T.S. programme is free of charge)
- D.O.T.S. combines five elements: political commitment, microscopy services, drug supply, monitoring systems, and direct observation of treatment
- D.O.T.S does not involve long periods of hospitalization, instead a person can take treatment at home, at work or at school
- T.B. treatment consist of a maximum number of 5 tablets, taken 5 days a week for a period of not less than 6 months
- The person taking TB tablets should be observed by a treatment supporter (chosen by the person taking the tablets) for the entire period of treatment
How can we prevent TB from spreading?
- People with symptoms of TB should go to the nearest clinic/hospital for free TB testing and treatment
- People who are taking TB tablets must finish their tablets (under direct observation)
- Immunize health babies with BCG
- Healthy lifestyle: balanced diet, exercise, avoid alcohol and smoking
- Protecting ourselves from the diseases that weaken the immune system e.G. HIV.
Download speech delivered by MEC Jajula at the TB Crisis Campaign held at Mdantantsane, East London.
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