Ada High Health Scare

Ada High Health Scare

 

When people think of Tuberculosis, they think of a fatal disease that can harm others around them, but it is much harder to catch it than what is put on. Hours of prolonged exposure are needed to contract TB from an infected person. It is caught mainly through the air and into the lungs when the infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or evens sings.

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the respiratory system. There are two different types of TB, TB infection, and TB disease.
• TB Infection
– No symptoms
– Not contagious
– Needs further evaluations such as blood and x-ray to help prevent active TB disease
• TB Disease
– Symptoms include: severe cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, and night sweating.
– Can spread TB Bacteria to other
– Abnormal chest x-ray. positive skin and blood results

When a person becomes infected with TB, the bacteria multiply, causing pneumonia, chest pains, and coughing up blood. The immune system fights the bacteria, forming scar tissue to help fight the infection. When the immune system can no longer fight the infection, the bacteria breaks through the scar tissue, it becomes TB active, which is the contagious disease. Once a person is infected with the disease, they have to undergo a series of medications up to 12 months that if not treated, can become fatal. It is crucial to finish the medication because the germs that are still alive can become resistant to the medication, which could result in a harder and more expensive form of treatment. According to the Virginia Department of Health, TB is NOT spread by shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink, touching bed linens or toilet seats, sharing toothbrushes or kissing.

If you have any questions contact the Pontotoc County Health Department at 580-332-2011.