Wednesday, December 28, 2011

If I have been in contact with someone who has been "exposed" to tuberculosis should I have a blood test

If I have been in contact with someone who has been "exposed" to tuberculosis should I have a blood test?
The person who has been "exposed" has been in very minor contact with the person who was actually diagnosed, but still has to be on antibiotics for 9 months. The blood test result for my friend was"exposed", not actually having TB, but exposure. Does that mean he could get it?
Infectious Diseases - 7 Answers
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1 :
In 2004 while working at a low cost/medicaid clinic, I contracted TB from an illegal immigrant who had TB which was never treated. All the employees of the clinic, plus the patients who were there at the time she was, had to have the skin test done. Out of everyone there, 2 people tested positive, her nurse & I. We both went through the 9 months of meds, and can not have the skin test done again, only x-rays. I was worried about giving it to family/friends, but I can't. I am now a TB carrier...have non-fatal TB and can not pass it to others. You are ok...the exposed person is now a carrier of TB but can not pass it on to others.
2 :
You need to be checked out, tell your MD.
3 :
YES HE COULD GET IT. YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR AND TRY TO AVOID SICK PEOPLE WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES
4 :
Contracting Tuberculosis requires prolonged contact (or exposure) from the tubercle bacilli. You cannot get tuberculosis froma single contact. Determination of contraction depends on reactivity to a skin test called PPD. Exposure means that his tuberculin test or PPD is positive. This requires 9 months of INH treatment. There is no blood test for TB...it is a skin test (PPD).
5 :
Yes you should have a test... it is highly contagious.
6 :
Go to the ER asap.
7 :
No that is not recommended. secondly blood tests don't diagnose TB anyway ! u should get investigated if u get symptoms like unexplained fever, cough >3weeks, wt loss etc

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Can a person with Tuberculosis live a healthy, normal life

Can a person with Tuberculosis live a healthy, normal life?
My boyfriend just told me he has had TB for a year... He's been under treatment, so I'm not under risk of catching it. But He smokes, and I worry. He plays football, but sometimes he weakens a lot... I am terrified. Does this mean he'll die? Will he have it forever? Does TB still kill human beings in our time?? Can TB be cured or does it simply go into remission like cancer?? Will he develop resistance to the drugs??? Will I lose him? His mother died recently, does this depression imply that he'll weaken and he'll get sicker, even with the treatment??? Please help me!!
Respiratory Diseases - 2 Answers
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1 :
Presuming he is a healthy person in general, what he presumably has is latent tuberculosis. TB can be cured in about 90% of persons who are infected. A good site for an explanation of tuberculosis is at the link below.
2 :
If he doesn't have the disease, but is just infected, he should be alright. Smoking is damaging to your health whether you have TB or not, but I don't think it places him at any more risk of getting the disease. TB still kills people in our time, of course, but it's WAY more common in underdeveloped countries. Your boyfriend will be on antibiotics for a year probably before the TB bacteria is killed. You may have it too, by the way, if you have so much as kissed him

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Is hepatitis and tuberculosis similar and if not whats the difference

Is hepatitis and tuberculosis similar and if not whats the difference?

Infectious Diseases - 4 Answers
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1 :
TB is a bacterial infection with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Highly contages and can built capsules. Hepatitis is a general term for inflamation of the liver. Generally caused by Hepatitis A, B, C, D or E virus. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or Tuberculosis) is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1]. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, the gastrointestinal system, bones, joints, and even the skin. Other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium canetti, and Mycobacterium microti also cause tuberculosis, but these species are less common. The classic symptoms of tuberculosis are a chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Infection of other organs causes a wide range of symptoms. The diagnosis relies on radiology (commonly chest X-rays), a tuberculin skin test, blood tests, as well as microscopic examination and microbiological culture of bodily fluids. Tuberculosis treatment is difficult and requires long courses of multiple antibiotics. Contacts are also screened and treated if necessary. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in (extensively) multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. Prevention relies on screening programs and vaccination, usually with Bacillus Calmette-GuÃ©rin (BCG vaccine). Tuberculosis is spread through the air, when people who have the disease cough, sneeze, or spit. One third of the world's current population has been infected with M. tuberculosis, and new infections occur at a rate of one per second.[2] However, most of these cases will not develop the full-blown disease; asymptomatic, latent infection is most common. About one in ten of these latent infections will eventually progress to active disease, which, if left untreated, kills more than half of its victims. In 2004, mortality and morbidity statistics included 14.6 million chronic active cases, 8.9 million new cases, and 1.6 million deaths, mostly in developing countries.[2] In addition, a rising number of people in the developed world are contracting tuberculosis because their immune systems are compromised by immunosuppressive drugs, substance abuse, or AIDS. The distribution of tuberculosis is not uniform across the globe with about 80% of the population in many Asian and African countries testing positive in tuberculin tests, while only 5-10% of the US population test positive.[1] It is estimated that the US has 25,000 new cases of tuberculosis each year, 40% of which occur in immigrants from countries where tuberculosis is endemic.[1] Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) implies injury to the liver characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from ancient Greek hepar (Î·Ï€Î±Ï�), the root being hepat- (Î·Ï€Î±Ï„-), meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation" (c. 1727)[1]. The condition can be self-limiting, healing on its own, or can progress to scarring of the liver. Hepatitis is acute when it lasts less than six months and chronic when it persists longer. A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause most cases of liver damage worldwide. Hepatitis can also be due to toxins (notably alcohol), other infections or from autoimmune process. It may run a subclinical course when the affected person may not feel ill. The patient becomes unwell and symptomatic when the disease impairs liver functions that include, among other things, removal of harmful substances, regulation of blood composition, and production of bile to help digestion.
2 :
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver... Tuberculosis is a respiratory disease which can also affect other parts of the body unless caght in time
3 :
hepatitis - infection of liver by virus, tuberculosis - infection of lung,or spine or bone by bacteria
4 :
Hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver. Tuberculosis is a lung disease

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Friday, December 16, 2011

whats the difference between discitis and spinal tuberculosis

whats the difference between discitis and spinal tuberculosis?
can an MRI reveal a difference between these two diseases?
Infectious Diseases - 1 Answers
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1 :
Discitis is a low-grade infection that affects the disc space between two vertebrae, and spinal tuberculosis is an infection of the spine by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. Yes, I'm sure an MRI will be able to differentiate between the two

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Monday, December 12, 2011

Would the tuberculosis bacterium be present in the caseous necrosis that the disease produces

Would the tuberculosis bacterium be present in the caseous necrosis that the disease produces?

Infectious Diseases - 1 Answers
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1 :
There is no certain way of telling except by microbiological studies. The most probable answer is YES. If you have been in treatment for about three months then the most likely answer would be NO

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

How is physical appearance of a tuberculosis patient

How is physical appearance of a tuberculosis patient?

Infectious Diseases - 3 Answers
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1 :
if its TB that has affected the lungs, a lot of these people appear pale and thin, with bags under their eyes.
2 :
it should be the same unless you are in the late stages of it
3 :
Usually thin, emaciated

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

What is that little neon-fluorescent light for in corners of restaurants and grocery stores for? Tuberculosis

What is that little neon-fluorescent light for in corners of restaurants and grocery stores for? Tuberculosis?
my ex wife told me that's what it's for, is that true, to kill the TB?
Fast Food - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
If it is a little red light it is a motion detector for the security system. I have worked in food and beverage for 7 years and now in healh care there is no such thing as a TB killer. If there were I would not have to get tested every year.
2 :
That light would not be enough to kill the TB virus. There are shots employers provide for their employees to reduce the infection of TB. The neon-lights are there for security and decoration purposes.
3 :
i believe they are for trapping insects and bugs.i saw this deli one time had a small fluorescent light strip that would attract bugs and flies,when they flew near it,there was a vacuum that would suck them in

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

What food is better for tuberculosis? Do you know any herbs or traditional method to treat it

What food is better for tuberculosis? Do you know any herbs or traditional method to treat it?
TB of lungs and lymph nodes
Alternative Medicine - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Unfortunately, there are no dietary or herbal methods to treat TB. The bacteria that causes TB is a very tough organism and even with modern medicine, it is very difficult to treat. You need to be strong and healthy so that TB reactivation does not occur so you do need to eat good food. A balanced diet will keep you strong and healthy. No herbs (so far) has been shown effective as treatment of TB.
2 :
Food? Just the best one, which will fatten you up. There is but one remedy which could help. A top quality Colloidal Silver. A one year long study completed at Harvard and Cambridge Universities shows that CS is effective as an anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and natural antibiotic. This study showed CS to be effective in humans with sinus infections, respiratory infection, bronchitis, strep throat, retro-viral infections, thrush (yeast), ear infections, fungal infections, urinary tract infections, and conjunctivitis. No failures were reported in this study. CS performed better than the five major classes of antibiotics in killing bacteria. Testing is on-going. In a groundbreaking study, the Journal of Nanotechnology has published a study that found silver nanoparticles kills HIV-1 and is likely to kill virtually any other virus. The study, which was conducted by the University of Texas and Mexico University, is the first medical study to ever explore the benefits of silver nanoparticles, according to Phys-org. During the study, researchers used three different methods of limiting the size of the silver nanoparticles by using capping agents. The capping agents were foamy carbon, poly (PVP), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The particles ranged in size from 1 to 10 nanometers depending on the method of capping. After incubating the HIV-1 virus at 37 C, the silver particles killed 100% of the virus within 3 hours for all three methods. The scientists believe that the silver particles bonded through glycoprotein knobs on the virus with spacing of about 22 nanometers in length. While further research is needed, researchers are optimistic that nanological silver may be the silver bullet to kill viruses. The researchers in the study said that they had already begin experiments using silver nanoparticles to kill what is known as the super bug (Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus). Already used as a topical antibiotic in the medical industry, silver may now come under consideration as an alternative to drugs when it comes to fighting previously untreatable viruses such as the Tamiflu resistant avian flu and large scale of super-resistant bacteria.
3 :
Have a look at the Gerson Therapy Diet. Dr Gerson cured Nobel prize winner Albert Schweitzer of advanced diabetes and his wife Helene of terminal TB. This link is very interesting to read thorough>>> http://cdin.us/blogsites/gerson-diet-hippocrates-soup-romaine-smoosh/
4 :
No foods or herbs have been demonstrated to resolve any TB infection. Antibiotics have, and work well. The standard regime for respiratory TB (including mediastinal lymph) would usually be a combination of 4 drugs for 2 months, followed by 2 drugs for 4 months. Rational choice would be pyrazinamide isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol for 2 months. Then Isoniazid and Rifampicin for 4 months. Then obviously it depends how you respond and if you can tolerate these drugs. Edit: Note that Colloidal Silver and Gerson diet, will have no effect

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