How often do they have to go to the doctor?Do they get specific medicine?
Infectious Diseases - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
they get antibiotics and are on them for an extended period of time
2 :
some one with TB gets one, sometimes two very specific medications and they have to be taken for six months. They need to see the doctor monthly for blood tests and after six months they need another chest xray.
3 :
Here some information: http://health.yahoo.com/infectiousdisease-treatment/tuberculosis-tb-treatment-overview/healthwise--hw207467.html
4 :
Gotta love that CDC! This is from their website (cdc.gov): "How Do You Get Tested for TB? There are two tests that can be used to help detect TB infection: a skin test or a special TB blood test. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm. The special TB blood test measures how the patient’s immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB. What Does a Positive Test for TB Infection Mean? A positive test for TB infection only tells that a person has been infected with TB germs. It does not tell whether or not the person has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease. What is Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)? BCG is a vaccine for TB disease. BCG is used in many countries, but it is not generally recommended in the United States. BCG vaccination does not completely prevent people from getting TB. It may also cause a false positive tuberculin skin test. However, persons who have been vaccinated with BCG can be given a tuberculin skin test or special TB blood test. Why is Latent TB Infection Treated? If you have latent TB infection but not TB disease, your doctor may want you to take a drug to kill the TB germs and prevent you from developing TB disease. The decision about taking treatment for latent infection will be based on your chances of developing TB disease. Some people are more likely than others to develop TB disease once they have TB infection. This includes people with HIV infection, people who were recently exposed to someone with TB disease, and people with certain medical conditions. How is TB Disease Treated? TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat. In some situations, staff of the local health department meet regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy (DOT). DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time. Additional Information CDC. Questions and Answers About TB
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