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World Tuberculosis Day

World Tuberculosis Day is observed on the 24th of March each year and it is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of Tuberculosis and the efforts to eliminate the disease. World TB day is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization.




BACKGROUND

March 24th commemorates the day in 1882 when Doctor Robert Kock astounded the scientific community by announcing to a small group of scientist at the university of Berlin Institute of hygiene that he had discovered the cause of TB bacillus. He presented microscopic slides and other pieces of evidence. It opened the way forward diagnosing and curing TB.

THEME Of WORLD TB DAY FOR 2020:

IT'S Time to test and treat latent TB infection

It's time to speak up

Time to end stigma

Time to strengthen TB education and awareness among health care providers.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE TB


  • Cough for more than two weeks or any duration if H.I.V

  • Unexplained weight loss of less 5kg in a month

  • Drenching night sweats

  • Persistent fever of more than two weeks

Signs and symptoms for children of 5yrs


  • Coughing for two weeks and not improving on treatment

  • Persistent fever of more than two weeks

  • Documented weight loss and failure to thrive

  • Fatigue less playful listlessness poor appetite

ACTION PLAN


TB is a serious infection ,usually the lungs caused by the bacteria (Mycobacterium). The bacteria spreads when you breath in the air exhaled by the person Infected with TB.

TB SCREENING

  • Chest x-ray

  • Skin test Purified Protein Derivative (PPD)

  • Blood test

  • Systematic Screening


STOP THE SPREAD OF TB

  • Take all your medication prescribed until your Doctor takes you off the treatment

  • Keep all Doctors appointments at all times

  • Always cover your mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing

  • Wash hands after coughing or sneezing

  • Don’t visit other people or invite them to visit you

Health Education of patient and family

Health education plays an important and vital in taking treatment correctly and at the same time everyday. Patient education and counselling for promoting adherence to treatment for TB is vital.


Non-adherence to TB treatment can lead to prolonged period of infectiousness ,relapse and drug -resistance.


Control strategy recommended by WHO and is the most effective way to stop the spread of TB and is the best curative measures for TB. Read more here.



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