TUBERCULOSIS: Not just for urban poor

Tuberculosis (TB) has been around for centuries. Although it is believed to be a disease usually found only in the urban poor, it has affected well known personalities all over the world. The most famous Filipino who contracted and later died because of Tb is Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of Commonwealth era.

TB was known before as ‘consumption’, since it appeared to consume its victims from within. It was called phthisis by the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates, the father of Medicine, noted phthisis as the most widespread disease of his time. And right now, still, TB affects an astounding number of people throughout the globe. In 2007, there were an estimated of 13.7 million chronic active cases, 9.3 new cases and 1.8 million deaths, mostly in developing countries. The incidence of tuberculosis all over the globe is not uniform; about 80% of all the cases were surveyed in most Asian and African countries while about 3-10% only found in US countries. According to world Health Organization, Philippines ranked fourth in the world in the number of cases of TB. And almost 2/3 of Filipinos in their prime ages are afflicted of this infectious disease.

In the Philippines, TB is the sixth leading cause of death and it is because of a bacterium that infiltrates the lungs or even other parts of the body. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified by Dr, Robert Koch in March 24, 1882; hence, it is now called as Koch’s disease. It is spread through the air when people who have the disease cough, sneeze, or spit.

Most incidence of TB affects the lungs, pulmonary TB accounts for the 75% of all the cases. And 25% accounts for extrapulmonary tuberculosis; urogenital tb affects the genitourinary system, Pott’s disease has something to do with the spine and an especially serious form of TB is the military type which is disseminated in nature. Extrapulmonary and pulmonary TB may co-exist with each other.

TB in the lungs shows symptoms such as chest pain, coughing out blood and productive cough for more than three weeks. Systemic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, anorexia, weight loss, pallor and easily get fatigued.

TB is contagious, and is an airborne disease. That means that people get the TB bacillus when they inhale minute particles of infected sputum from the air. A person needs only to inhale a small number of these to be infected. Contrary to popular beliefs, TB is not spread by; shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink, touching bed linens or toilet seats, and kissing.

Progression from TB infection to full blown TB disease happens only when the bacilli or the causative agent overcome the body’s defenses and begin to multiply. To prevent the bacteria to spread, there are available diagnostic procedures for early detection and treatment. Mantoux tuberculin skin test, Interferon-γ release assay and chest photofluorography are some of the most utilized for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Treatment modalities; pharmacologically or non pharmacologically are now in the process of developing new ways to overcome this disease. As of now, there is DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short course), antibiotics such as Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, and Streptomycin. TB is not an ordinary condition that can be cured in just a snap, it requires long term treatment or even lifetime of antibiotics. But studies have shown that there are herbs that can effectively manage TB. Such herbs are, garlic, it is a mainstay in home remedy for treating TB. It effectively works against harmful organisms, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. Another is, pineapple juice; which is considered to be one of the best treatment remedies for patients suffering from tuberculosis. Pineapple juice with freshly ground pepper and a dash of salt and honey can be administered once everyday. This is found to be extremely helpful in dissolving mucus. Orange juice, also, is another natural remedy for TB. A glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice with a pinch of salt, a spoonful of honey, and two-three mint leaves is given to the affected person. The saline effect in the lungs will reduce expectoration and protect the patient from other secondary infections. Vitamin C contained in orange juice boosts the immune system and also helps fight the disease-causing bacteria.
‘Prevention is better than cure’—precautions in contracting TB has been in the media and all of us people need is to take it and use it in our everyday lives. TB wouldn’t be a cause of mortality and morbidity of people if we have the initiative to avoid it.