Wednesday, February 16, 2011

My uncle has Tuberculosis and they say we might have to get tested for it, im scared and need answers please

My uncle has Tuberculosis and they say we might have to get tested for it, im scared and need answers please?
How does it spread? What does it do? Symptoms? Is it curable? Anything else? Please this is really scaring me
Other - Diseases - 6 Answers
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1 :
It spreads by coughing you can die from this coughing up blood yes go to the doctor if you have it you can spread it so you need to go fast
2 :
Here is a website that might answer most of your questions. Hope this helps. http://body.aol.com/conditions/tuberculosis-tb
3 :
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a communicable disease which is transmitted via the sputum (spit) of the sick person. The reason you are to be tested is to be sure that you don't have it and inadvertently spread the disease to someone else. People can have TB for years without symptoms. There are drugs to treat TB so it's important to take them religiously if you have the disease so it doesn't develop into drug-resistant TB. The test is incredibly easy: a simple needle prick in your arm (not a shot or blood draw - more like being bitten by a kitty) and wait ten days. Get tested! It will alleviate your fears if it's negative and give you something to work with if it's positive.
4 :
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that is most often found in the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can spread to other parts of the body TB in the lungs is easily spread to other people through coughing or laughing. Treatment is often successful, though the process is long. Treatment time averages between 6 and 9 months.. If your uncles was latent TB it cannot be contagious, its very easily treated but it takes a long time, good luck on ya
5 :
First, the test is simple and easy so don't worry about that. TB spreads through the air when the person coughs. It's relatively hard to catch. It causes lesions and other issues with your lungs and can be deadly if untreated. The main symptom is a persistant cough. It is certainly curable but you must take all of the prescribed antibiotics or risk a relapse. Do take some time and read about TB on the CDC website and schedule a test at your doctor's office. Your doctor will be able to give you better information.
6 :
Don't panic! Tuberculosis is usually spread in much the same way as a cold or other respiratory infection: by exposure to someone with the virus, coming into contact with them through coughing, sneezing, touching contaminated materials (tissues, towels, etc). The disease primarily affects the lungs, although there have been reports of tuberculosis of the bones. If you have been exposed, you might not yet have any symptoms, but the most notable ones would be a chronic cough with mucus and perhaps some chest pain. You and your family will probably have a Mantoux test, a skin test, to determine whether you've been exposed. If the results are positive, you'll more than likely get a chest x-ray, and be placed on a course of medication for about six months. I was exposed through a co-worker, and took medication for six months. It was inconvenient, but it didn't have a huge impact on my lifestyle. But if you're positive, DO get the treatment, so the disease doesn't progress. Good luck to you

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