Tuberculosis (TB),TB Cause,TB Symptoms,TB Risk Factors,TB Treatment

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, which are airborne pathogen,meaning that this bacterial infection spreads through air from person to person when a person with TB(whose lungs are affected) coughs,spit,sneezes,laughs or talks.TB generally affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of body. 

There are two types:-

• Latent TB infection:- When people breathe in bacterial spores they become infected and the bacteria lives inside the host without making them sick because of the inherent immune system which is called Latent TB infection. People with Latent TB infection do not have any symptom & are not a potential threat to others.

• Active TB Disease:- When a person with Latent TB infection has a weak immune system (due to other health problems), the TB bacteria becomes      active & multiply in the body and resulting in evident symptoms of TB and are active vectors.
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Cause of Tuberculosis:-

TB is caused by acid fast bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis & first discovered by German microbiologist Robert Koch in 1882. It is non motile rod-shaped small bacillus and does not retain any bacteriological stain due to high lipid content (e.g.Mycolic acid) in its cell wall,hence acid-fast staining (Ziehl-Neelsen Staining)is used. M.Tuberculosis is highly aerobic bacteria so requires oxygen to grow & they divides every 15-20 hours.Due to presence of mycolic acid in its cell wall they can withstand weak disinfectants & can survive in a dry state for weeks. Many Strain of these bacteria able to developing a resistance against antibiotics that fail to kill them completely which is vary dangerous for human being .If it not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

Symptoms :-

TB bacteria most commonly grow in the lungs but can also attack any part of body as the kidney,bone,spine & brain & can cause symptom such as :-

• A prolonged bed cough producing sputum  (occasionally small amount of blood).
• Pain in the chest.

Other Symptoms

• Weakness or Fatigue
• Weight loss
• No appetite
• chills & fever
• Sweating at night

TB Risk Factors:-

Anyone can affected with TB,but people at high risk generally fall into following categories:-

• People recently infected with TB bacteria.
• People with suppress immune power due to other disease & malnutrition.
• You have spent time with a person with TB disease.
• You have visited areas or country where TB disease is vary common.

You have a higher chance of getting TB disease once infected if :-    

• You have HIV infection.
• You have younger than 5 year child.
• You have other health problems that make it hard for your body to fight disease.
• You smoke cigarettes or abuse alcohol & drugs.
• You were not treated correctly for latent TB infection or active TB disease in the past.

Treatment :-

Treatment of Latent TB infection:

Latent TB infection means TB bacteria live in body but they are not sick because bacteria are not active.However if bacteria become active & multiply in the body,LTBI convert to active TB disease. For this reason,WHO recommended following regimens for  LTBI treatment to prevent its develop in TB disease:-

• 6 or 9 month Isoniazid daily.
• 3-month Rifapentine + Isoniazid weekly.
• 3 or 4 month Isoniazid + Rifampicin daily.
• 3 or 4 month Rifampicin alone daily.

Treatment for Active TB Disease:

TB bacteria become active & multiply in the body,if the immune system can't stop them from growing & finally person become sick with symptoms of TB which is called Active TB Disease.There are 10 drugs currently approved by FAD for treating TB disease. WHO recommended First-Line Anti-TB agent for treating fresh/new TB patient (Drug susceptible TB i.e TB which is not resistant to any of the drug) &  called as treatment regimens which are:-

• Isoniazid (INH)
• Rifampicin (RIF)
• Pyrazinamide (PZA)
• Ethambutal (EMB)

For these patients, the WHO recommended that they should have 6 to 9 month of TB drugs treatment.This should consist of a two month "Initial" treatment phase followed by a four month "Continuation"phase.

• For Initial Treatment Phase-INH+RIF+PZA+EMB per day for two month.
• For Continuation Phase- INH+RIF per day for 4 to 6 month.

It is very important that TB patients complete all dose of medicine which are exactly prescribed. If patient do't take the drugs correctly,the TB bacteria that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs & further treatment is very harder & expensive.

Moringa Oleifera (Shajan in Hindi & Drumsticks in English), a Powerhouse of Neutrients

Drumsticks, also know as Moringa Oleifera, are most popular tree in world & is often referred to as the Miracle tree due to high level of Nutritional content & valuable health benefits. All parts of drumstick like leaves,pods,fruits & seeds have amazingly high concentration of Vitamins,Minerals, Amino acids (Proteins) & antioxidants making it a healthy food .It has been estimated that fresh leaves of this plant contains:

• 4 time the Vitamin A of Carrots.
• 6  time the VitaminC of Oranges.
• 5 time the Vitamin A of  Milk.
• 3 time the Vitamin A of  Bananas.
• 2 time the Vitamin A of Yogurt.
• Also rich in  Iron.    

Hence Moringa tree could virtually wipe out malnutrition & it may be best option for countries who have highest rate of malnutrition. In the present world food crisis,the use of this tree is critical to improve nutritional levels in under-developed countries.

 

Botanical Name       : Moringa Oleifera

Family                       :  Moringaceae

Hindi Name             :  Shajan

Nutritional Contents :Vitamin B,Vitamin C,Vitamin A (beta-carotene),Vitamin K,Calcium,Potassium,Iron,Manganese & Protein.

Amount of Nutritional Contents in each 100 gm of  Moringa given as:

Nutrition	Leaves	Pods
Basic Compound
Calorie	60 kcal	35 kcal
Carbohydrates	10.12 g	8.53 g
Protein	8.6 g	2.2 g
Fat	1.5 g	0.20 g
Fiber	2.8 g	3.8 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A	362 μg	4 μg
Vitamin B1(Thiamin)	0.239 mg	0.05 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	0.58 mg	0.074 mg
Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid)	2.2 mg	0.62 mg
Vitamin B6	1.0 mg	0.10 mg
Vitamin B9(Folate)	33  μg	30  μg
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)	77 mg	123 mg
Minerals
Calcium	220 mg	35 mg
Copper	2.8 mg	1.0 mg
Iron	5.0 mg	1.3 mg
Potassium	240 mg	390 mg
Sulphur	120 mg	106 mg
Magnesium	105 mg	35 mg
Phosphorus	150 mg	70 mg
Zinc	0.6 mg	4.0 mg

Benefits of  Moringa Oleifera:

For Strong Bones : It help in healthy & strong bones due to high content of calcium,iron & other vitamins.Consuming of Drumstick on regular basis,it is found to raise the bone density and increase bone health in kids.

Blood Purifiers : Drumstick leaves particularly are also believed  to purify the blood.

Pregnancy & Lactation : Pregnant woman can use it as tonic on regular basis due to containing of high concentration of calcium,iron & vitamins.During pregnancy it help in eases pre & post delivering complications.It also boosting the breast milk production after delivery.

Protection Against Infections : Its flower & leaves contain  antibacterial agent that protect to us from wide range of infection such as throat,chest & skin infection. Moringa also boosting the our immune System because they contain essential amount of vitamin C. 

Enhance Sexual Health : Presence of Zinc is found to enhance the process of Spermatogenesis  that help in curing impotency,premature ejaculation & thinning of seamen. It also play a important role in female sterility.  

Reduce in Blood Sugar level & make Gall Bladder Health : Drumstick leaves significantly reduce the blood glucose levels by enhance Gall Bladder function.

Help in Digestion: Its leaves & pods are loaded with in B-complex Vitamins which is act as co-enzyme in metabolism of carbohydrates,proteins & Fats.

Help in Respiratory Problems: Drinking a cup of drumstick soup,relives in suffering of soar throat,cough or congestion by flushing out your toxic load in lungs due to smoking cigarettes   or air pollution. It act as an effective natural remedy to fight against lung diseases such as asthma,bronchitis & tuberculosis.

Antioxidant: It is rich source of Vitamin A which is one of the antioxidant offering several benefits,including mucus membrane repair,maintenance of skin integrity,vision & immunity.

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