What Tuberculosis Can Do to You

Posted by on Apr 10th, 2014 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Do you know that 32000 children around the world become sick every year because of a strain of tuberculosis called “superbug”? This strain is drug resistant which makes the work of scientists more difficult. There is a study recently published by Lancet which identified the actual number of children suffering from tuberculosis or TB.

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The study was launched in commemoration of the World TB Day last March 24, 2014. The study gave a clearer picture of young TB victims. As for the TB situation here in Singapore, the cases declined overtime because of the program launched by the government called the Singapore Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP).

TB is an infectious and air borne disease. If you wonder what it can do to you, here are some ideas:

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  • TB can affect the lungs: Of course, you know that TB primarily affects the lungs. It is called pulmonary tuberculosis.
  • TB can affect other parts of the body: Apart from the lungs, TB can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidneys, lymph, nodes, joints and bones.
  • TB can be fatal: Many people simply ignore TB but they should know that it can be fatal. It can lead to death. When you suffer TB, your immune system will deteriorate.

You should know the symptoms of TB so you can be aware of it and treat it immediately. Symptoms include persistent coughing for more than three years, fever, fatigue, chest pain, weight loss and coughing blood. The risk of TB is higher for people who are drug addicts or people with poor nutrition.

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