Tuberculosis: Here are the symptoms, prevention and treatment

Tuberculosis, one of the top 10 causes of deaths worldwide, is an infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs. It can also spread to other parts of the body like the brain and spine.

Through the air, just like a cold or flu, when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, talks or laughs, tiny droplets that contain the germs are released.

If you breathe in these nasty germs, you get infected.

Tuberculosis germs don’t thrive on surfaces. You can’t get the disease from shaking hands with someone who has it, or by sharing their food or drink.

Below are its signs, treatments, and preventions.

Symptoms

There are so many signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. The most common are persistent cough, pain in breathing and coughing, unintended weight loss and loss of appetite.

Preventions

Tuberculosis is preventable and curable. It can be prevented in the following ways. Vaccination; proper ventilation, frequent hand washing, and healthy lifestyle are ways of preventing tuberculosis.

Treatments

Medications are the cornerstone of tuberculosis treatment, but its treatment takes longer than other types of bacterial infections.

As individuals, there are various ways in which we can treat tuberculosis, like directly observed therapy (DOT), taking medications and consulting a doctor immediately.

Also, when down with the infection, you must take antibiotics for at least six to nine months.