On this World Tuberculosis day, give yourself the space to learn something about Tuberculosis and help prevent it when you can. This is a disease caused by bacteria and it can spread from person to person through the air. Lungs, kidneys, bones or the brain may get harmed in this process.

There are two forms: Latent TB infection (Inactive) and TB disease (Active). Inactive TB has no symptoms and is detected through blood/skin test only whereas Active TB cab causes cough, fatigue, coughing up blood, chest pain, sweating at night, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Here are few steps you could use to avoid it:

1. Avoid meeting people with TB –

Since it highly contagious, it is best suited to avoid being around people that already are in contact with the disease. But if you have no choice as in a work space, it is best if you wear a mask and stay safe.

 

2. Are you susceptible –

If you have a weak immune system, work in a crowded space, regularly expose yourself to drugs/alcohol or have no access to proper health care then you are at a higher risk of getting this disease. The lesser contact, the safer you are.

 

3. Maintain healthy lifestyle –

Incorporate exercising in your daily life or at least 4 times a week to stay fit. Make sure your diet includes a lot of healthy food such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, meat, etc. Avoid fatty, sugary and processed foods. Avoid consumption of alcohol and drugs.

 

4. Get vaccinated –

The main way to prevent TB is by the use of the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine. It can be prevented in children by treating cases of active TB amongst adults in the same household. Children with the disease are usually not infectious, and so there is usually no chance to pass on TB to either other children or elders.

 

Reference:

http://www.tbfacts.org/tb-prevention/

http://16c.72e.myftpupload.com/tb-children/

http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Tuberculosis