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| TUBERCULOSIS |
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Tuberculosis can occur in all ages, in infants and children and adults. Though it is
common among the poor and malnourished people, still no social class is exempt.
Children usually get the infection with contact of an adult person suffering from
Tuberculosis. The child can get infected by inhaling the germs in the contaminated air.
Manifestation
Tuberculosis can affect any organ of the body. Tuberculosis can be present in the lymph
glands, lungs, intestines, bones, brains and meninges and also other organs. In children,
the most commonly affected is lymph glands and lungs.
Symptoms
a. |
The child may suffer from prolonged unexplained low grade
fever. |
b. |
There is lack of appetite, lethargy and failure to gain
weight. |
c. |
There may be swelling of the body. |
d. |
The child complains of vague pain in the abdomen in case of
Tuberculosis of the intestines. |
e. |
In Tuberculosis of the brain (Tuberculous Meningico), the
child will have fever, irritability, headache and vomitting. |
Treatment
Tuberculosis is completely a beatable disease. Highly effective and safe drugs are
available to cure this condition. In most cases the treatment is reduced to six to nine
months. However, the patient should be given a regular full course of treatment as
recommended, under the proper medical supervision. Irregular administration of drugs and
failure to continue treatment for the entire recommended period may lead to recurrence and
complications of Tuberculosis.
Prevention
| a. |
Tuberculosis is largely a preventable
disease if the Tuberculosis vaccine (B.C.G) is given within the first month of the child's
birth. If the BCG vaccine is missed during that period, it can be given at a later stage.
In that case, the doctor would first like to examine the child and do a Mantoux test (skin
test) to assess the need and advisability of giving the B.C.G vaccine. |
| b. |
Another preventive step is the avoidance
of child's close contact with infectious case of Tuberculosis. |
| c |
Screening of suspected cases of
Tuberculosis and starting the treatment as early as possible. |
| d. |
In certain situations, the doctor may like
to prescribe prophylactive medication to a child to prevent the development of the
disease. |
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