You will agree that it has always been said that good health is wealth; as such, a healthy person is a wealthy person, though staying naturally healthy is not common. Each day, our body is bombarded by countless pathogens, bacteria and viruses. While some are mild and easy to eradicate, there are others that are so aggressive and persistent, constituting a real public health concern.
A typical example of such setbacks is TB. After all the advances humans have made in the area of medical science, TB pose a significant threat to global public health..

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis as a sickness is something you don't really want to experience. It was called the white plague because of the way it made its victims look pale white.
When a person has Mycobacterium Tuberculosis actively wracking real havoc in their body system they can be said to have Tuberculosis.

If the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis is infesting the person's lungs, the tuberculosis is called pulmonary tuberculosis. But if bacteria are setting up camp in other places like the lymph nodes, bones, kidneys and spine, this one is called extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.

Three common symptoms of TB? Explain it.

Persistent Coughing:
A person with tuberculosis often has a cough for a long time, let's say days or even months at a time; tuberculosis-related cough is often accompanied by sputum production. So, if you have someone around who has been having continuous coughs. It is advisable to go for a test. Locally, the test and treatment of tuberculosis is free..
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Chest Pain and Coughing out Blood:
If a person has tuberculosis, one of the first things you will notice is that they are in a lot of pain that concentrates in their chest area, they often cough out some blood or sputum, and they often have difficulty breathing. The bacteria cause internal inflammation that damages the lungs resulting in serious pain, cough and blood.

Fatigue and Weight Loss:
A Persons infected with tuberculosis often feel very weak and will quickly lose a lot of weight. They may also experience a lot of night sweating, fever, and chills. Just visualise a situation where the inflamed lungs are trying to supply oxygen but are failing to meet the expectation. So the body now gets less oxygen, leading to fatigue. Loss of appetite and problems absorbing nutrients can be responsible for weight loss. Just imagine the body feeds poorly and works extra time attempting to kill off the inversion.

How does TB affect our lives?

A person who is infected with tuberculosis is often feeling weak. The fatigue will make it difficult to engage in strenuous work. Just imagine trying to do manual work on the farm when you can't breathe well. Productivity is badly affected.
When the people around get to know that you are suffering from tuberculosis, you get some degree of social stigma and isolation. You get avoided by everyone. Such avoidance creates a lot of emotional distress and can lead to mental health issues. Not being able to work could lead to economic problems and in places where treatment is expensive, it adds extra medical burden on the already slim income

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What kind of challenges do TB patients face during treatment?

Lengthy Treatment Duration:
Tuberculosis treatment typically lasts for 6-12 months, during which the patient is expected to follow a very strict regimen of medication and follow-up appointments with the health official.

Side Effects of Medication:
The medication for tuberculosis can cause a lot of unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and even liver damage in some extreme cases.

Social Stigma and Isolation:
Once a person loses weight to some point, most local people will start avoiding you, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Financial Burden:
In places where you have to buy your drugs, treatment can be very costly, resulting in a significant financial burden on patients and their families. Just imagine the breadwinner is down with tuberculosis, and the whole household is affected.

Invitation

I am inviting the following to participate: @fombae, @dequeen and @bela90

Media Credit

Composer	@manuelhooks
Graphics from	pixabay.com
Entry type	Contest participation
Organizer	@ahsansahrif
Date	Fri. 2nd May
	(@) 2025