CHECK IF YOU OR SOMEONE AROUND YOU HAS TUBERCULOSIS

#CelebratingWorldTuberculosisDay

Hi lovely people...a pleasant cold and rainy day!!...oh!I have been waiting for this moment.

Now, back to the matter. Today is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day and I think I owe it to you guys to bring information about this deadly infectious disease right at your doorstep. *Let those who have ears listen and those who have eyes read O!*

A lot people we may know are walking around with this disease without even knowing it. TB doesn't only affect the lungs, as people might think. It can affect other parts of the body such as the skin, abdomen, bones, etc.

TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Everyone and anybody can contact it but certain people are at a risk of getting TB which include:

- those who have never received the BCG immunisation especially at birth.

- those with really low immunity such as in HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, kidney diseases,    certain cancers, malnutrition,  etc

- people who live in extremely poor conditions such as in an over crowded rooms.

- travelling to countries that have high rates of TB

- health workers

- refugee camp or shelter

-  contact with chronic coughed ( so make sure you are not harbouring someone who has been coughing for donkey years in your house, even if the person is your relative)

How do you know if it is TB?

The person may have any or all the following:

- cough that has gone on for more than 3 weeks

- chills

- night sweats

- unexplained or unintentional weight loss

- loss of appetite

- coughing up blood ( no matter how small)

Now if TB affects other parts of the body, other complaints will come up but, if you are sure you are losing weight without coughing,  still visit the doctor.

If you don't see a doctor even with all these signs, be sure you are asking for trouble. The TB can become complicated and that is as good as been dead!

Remember TB has a cure. For those of you who are on treatment, please for God's sake, ensure you take your drugs appropriately to the end or  else the TB will be resistant to the original medications, and therefore become more difficult to treat.

Has anyone lost a loved one from TB? Please if you have, share your experience so that some 'doubting thomases' will understand that this is a serious matter!