9 million people worldwide have tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, popularly known as tuberculosis, occurs when the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis enters the body through the respiratory tract and develops widespread inflammation, especially in the lungs. It is easily transmitted to other people by breathing, coughing or sneezing of the patient.
1.5 MILLION PATIENTS LOSE DUE TO THIS DISEASE
Dr. Instructor Member Süleyman Güven stated that this disease is an infectious disease that can spread through the air, and said, “Even though tuberculosis is a disease with a cure, it can be fatal if not treated. Tuberculosis is an important public health problem. It is estimated that there are approximately 9 million tuberculosis patients in the world. “1.5 million patients die from this disease,” he said.
DISEASE AFTER CONTACT DOES NOT DEVELOP IMMEDIATELY
Güven continued his words as follows: “As a result of the ingestion of tuberculosis bacilli released into the air after coughing, sneezing, speaking and sneezing by individuals with active tuberculosis disease, the disease may develop over time. The disease does not develop immediately after contact. Not everyone who has the bacillus gets sick. It is not contagious unless the person who has received tuberculosis bacillus is sick. There is no contamination with the items used by the patient such as forks, spoons, glasses, plates, towels. Being together with the infected person for a long time, having additional diseases, decreasing immunity over time accelerate the spread of the disease to the lungs and spread to other organs. Tuberculosis disease can affect all organs and systems, although it mostly affects the lungs. Depending on the organ involved, it may present with different complaints.
SUNLIGHT IS EFFECTIVE IN THE EXTERMINATION OF TUBERCULOSIS
Emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis disease, Güven said, “It is possible to diagnose the bacillus in the sputum sample in microscopic examination and by culture method in the same sputum sample. With regular treatment, the contagiousness disappears within weeks. The tuberculosis bacillus is sensitive to sunlight and disappears in a short time. For this reason, it is important that the room where the patients stay is frequently ventilated and exposed to the sun.
TUBERCULOSIS MUST BE TREATED WITH MEDICINE
Emphasizing that tuberculosis disease can be treated with drugs, Güven said, “There is no treatment option other than drug therapy for the disease. Today, there are powerful drugs that kill the tuberculosis microbe. In order to effectively destroy the bacilli and prevent the development of resistance, an average of 6 months of treatment is given. Basically, with 4 drugs.” “Intensive treatment begins for two months and continues for four months with 2 drugs. In some special disease cases, treatment periods and drugs may change,” he said.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT DISEASE
Mentioning the aims of prevention of the disease, Güven concluded his words as follows: “The aim of prevention from the disease includes the prompt treatment of infectious patients with active TB, the BCG vaccine, the administration of preventive treatment when necessary, and the prevention of tuberculosis transmission. Contrary to what is known, the BCG vaccine is not a disease but a disease-related disease. protects against miliary tuberculosis and meningitis”