World TB Day: Know TB and how to beat it
Many people die from TB, often at a young age, and that is why the Africa Centre for Population Health is doing research to help with the TB problem.
TUBERCULOSIS (TB) is a huge problem in our community.
Most people know friends or family who have suffered from the disease.
Many people die from TB, often at a young age, and that is why the Africa Centre for Population Health is doing research to help with the TB problem.
Dr Richard Lessells’ study looked at the impact of a new TB test, the GeneXpert machine.
This was done in a clinical trial based at KwaMsane Clinic and Hlabisa Hospital.
In 2013, Dr Tom Yates conducted a study that tested grade one and grade two children for TB infection using the tuberculin skin test.
This study found that two in every 100 children become infected with TB every year.
This is a bit lower than in Cape Town but a lot more than in Malawi.
Dr Yates is now examining why some children are infected with TB and some are not.
‘We are looking at the effects of HIV, poverty, how far away people live from clinics, migration and how much time children spend in public places like churches and clinics, said Yates. ‘This analysis is complicated!’
In 2014, a study measuring ventilation in public buildings in our community was conducted.
This was conducted in a church, a tavern, a high school, a SASSA office, a bank, two stores and at a clinic waiting room.
It was found that some places are badly ventilated and simple changes to these buildings, such as always keeping the windows open, could reduce the risk of TB.
Africa Centre is planning to do lot more research on TB in the coming years, including a study on trying to better understand drug resistant TB.
Professor Alison Grant from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is leading this work. She has already done a lot of research about TB in other parts of South Africa.
Dr Tom would like to thank Siphiwe Cebekhulu, Mumsy Mthethwa, and Happiness Mkhwanazi, who worked very hard on the 2013 Tuberculin School Study at Africa Centre for Population Health.
What is TB?
TB is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Many people are infected with TB. In most people, the TB is ‘latent’, which means it is sleeping.
Latent TB does not cause sickness. However, in some people, the TB wakes up and it can make them very sick.
TB usually causes disease in the lungs but it can also cause disease in other parts of the body such as the bones, kidneys and in the lining of the brain, which we call meningitis.
What are TB symptoms?
People with TB often have a cough. Sometimes people with TB cough blood.
People with TB may also have fevers, particularly at night. They may lose weight or have swollen glands in the neck or armpit.
If you have TB symptoms, go to clinic and get tested. You may save your own life and treatment will stop you from passing TB to friends and family.
How do you catch TB?
When people who have active TB in their lungs cough, TB is put into the air. When other people who are in the same room breathe, the TB in the air can pass into their lungs and they can become infected with TB.
How do you test for TB?
There are many different tests for TB. The most common ones are the tuberculin test, tests done on sputum and chest x-rays.
Tuberculin tests and sputum tests can be done at clinics. For a chest x-ray, you need to go to Hlabisa Hospital.
Can you treat TB?
Yes! Active TB can be cured. Treatment usually takes six months but treatment for drug resistant TB can take longer.
It is very important not to forget pills and to finish the treatment. If you don’t take the treatment properly, you may get drug resistant TB.
If you have side effects, do not stop taking treatment without speaking to your doctor.
There are treatments for many side effects, so there is no need to suffer alone.
Latent TB can also be treated but, in South Africa, only young children and people with HIV receive treatment for latent TB.
What is ventilation and why is it important?
Ventilation means letting fresh air into a space. This can be done by opening doors and windows.
TB infection does not happen outside because the TB is soon blown away by the wind.
It is much less likely to happen in places with big windows that are kept open. So, if you are in a public place, particularly if people are coughing, make sure that the windows are open wide.
