Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease caused by a bacterial infection. TB generally attacks the lungs, but can also attack other organs, such as the kidneys, spine and brain.
TB is an infectious disease that causes the second biggest health problem in the world after HIV. This disease is caused by the bacillus of the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis itself can attack any part of the body, but the most common and most common is tuberculosis infection of the lungs as described above.
The spread of this disease can occur through people who have had TB. Then, coughing or sneezing spit out saliva or droplets that have been contaminated and inhaled by healthy people who have weak immunity against tuberculosis. Although it usually attacks the lungs, this disease can also affect other bodies, such as the central nervous system, heart, lymph nodes, and others.
TB in the lungs will cause symptoms in the form of coughing for more than 3 weeks which may be accompanied by phlegm or blood. In addition, sufferers will also experience other symptoms, such as fever, chest pain and sweating at night.
The cough that occurs also sometimes produces colored phlegm, such as cloudy or coughing up blood. People with TB will also usually lose their appetite and experience weight loss accompanied by fever, night sweats, and fatigue. If tuberculosis infection in the lungs has caused damage to the lungs, symptoms of shortness of breath will occur
With proper treatment, this serious disease can be cured. The required treatment step is to take several types of anti-tuberculosis drugs which must be taken for a certain period of time, at least 6 months
Call your doctor as soon as possible if you experience the symptoms described earlier. Appropriate and fast treatment can minimize complications that may occur.
Article written by dr. Rudy Kurniawan Putra, Sp.P (Lung & Respiratory Specialist at EMC Cikarang Hospital).