Tuberculosis Awareness Day

 Awarness and Prevention of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is more common than you may think. About one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with Tuberculosis, with one new infection occurring every second. Not all infected people are sick with active TB; in fact, 90 percent have “walled off” the bacteria within their lungs and are not ill. But the other 10 percent will develop active, contagious tuberculosis each year, and each person who develops active TB will likely infect at least 10 to 15 other people before they is treated.

Raising awareness about tuberculosis, what it is, and how to prevent its spread can help lower tuberculosis rates around the globe.

Tuberculosis Is All About Human Contact

Eradicating tuberculosis infection in a particular country isn't a matter of simply providing a clean water supply or non-contaminated food — it's about setting up an organized system for recognizing the infection, treating it, and reducing transmission from person to person.

"Tuberculosis is a disease that is transmitted only from humans to human ". It's only from contact, usually with someone who has active lung tuberculosis." Tuberculosis is spread by the tiny droplets that become airborne when a person with active TB coughs.

A person who has the active disease in their lungs can spread it through the air. “Active” means the TB germs are multiplying and spreading in their body. If they are in close contact with someone who has it, then that person can get it. That’s why doctors advise those who have active TB disease to stay home and away from other people as much as possible, until they’re no longer infectious.

Preventing Tuberculosis Infection

If you have active TB disease, you must get treated right away. This might involve taking a number of medications for 6 to 12 months. It is important to take all of your medicines, as they’re prescribed, the entire time -- even if you feel better. If not, you can get sick again.

If you have TB germs in your body but they haven’t become active, you have what doctors call “latent TB.” You can’t spread the disease to others. But your doctor may still recommend that you take medications to keep the germs from becoming active.

Follow these other tips to help prevent others from getting TB during your first few weeks of treatment, or until your doctor says you’re no longer contagious:

• Take all of your medicines as they’re prescribed, until your doctor takes you off them.
• Keep all your doctor appointments.
• Always cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Seal the tissue in a plastic bag, and then safely discard it away.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Don’t visit other people and don’t invite them to visit you.
• Stay home from work, school, or other public places.
• Use a fan or open windows to move around fresh air.
• Don’t use public transportation.

Raising Awareness of TB

So what does awareness have to do with it? Everything. The more people know about tuberculosis and the importance of stopping the spread of the disease.

To remain successful in the fight against tuberculosis, keeping awareness high and funds dedicated is essential. "If people don't continue to pay attention to tuberculosis the rate of decline will flatten.

World TB Day and Other Campaigns

There are doctors who specialize in, and focus on, treating and preventing the spread of tuberculosis. These doctors are knowledgeable about spotting and promptly treating the disease and making sure citizens are aware of the importance of treatment.

But it is also important to raise awareness internationally. Here are some campaigns attempting to do that:

• World TB Day. This international day of awareness is sponsored by the “Stop TB Partnership”, which brings together governments and individuals to fight TB. World TB Day brings international attention to the illness, and money to help control it.
• The Stop TB Strategy. The World Health Organization developed the Stop TB Strategy as part of the Global Plan to Stop TB. These campaigns are designed to raise worldwide awareness for better treatment, control, and prevention of tuberculosis.
• National Stop TB Partnerships. A number of countries, from the United States to Mexico to Uganda, have formed a National Stop TB Partnership. These country-specific partnerships address tuberculosis within their own nations, finding ways to better control the disease and help put an end to this global problem.

In other words, the best way to be well is to avoid getting sick in the first place.

Make them aware. Share it and save a life.

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