Tuberculosis (Pulmonary TB)

Tuberculosis was a major health problem in Britain prior to the emergence of antibiotics (which can successfully treat the disease).

In this article:

What is tuberculosis?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

How Chemist Online can help

Advice & Support

What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection. Although it is no longer widespread in the UK, millions of people worldwide die from the disease every year, with the vast majority of these being in developing counties in the Sub Saharan Africa region.

There is a direct link between widespread HIV and the prevalence of tuberculosis in a particular global region. This is because HIV weakens the immune system, meaning that the body is unable to fight the bacteria that creates tuberculosis.

Symptoms
Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis include:

Persistent cough (which brings up thick mucus – this can also be bloody)

Breathlessness

Fever

Tiredness & fatigue

A feeling of being rundown

Loss of appetite & weight-loss

Night sweats

Causes
You catch tuberculosis by breathing in the air of an infected person who coughs or sneezes. You are most likely to catch tuberculosis from someone you share accommodation with, or work closely with (who is infected).

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and your persistent cough has lasted for more than three weeks, make an appointment with your GP immediately. After taking your medical history and asking you some questions about your symptoms, they will then carry out a series of tests. These tests may include an X-ray for which you will be referred to your local (or nearest) hospital. You will also undergo a sputum test to look for the bacteria in the lung. Based upon the combined results of these two tests, a diagnosis will then be made and you will be referred to a specialist tuberculosis team for treatment.

Treatment
Most cases of tuberculosis are successfully treated with a course of combined antibiotics. However, as the condition is highly contagious, you may have to be hospitalised and isolated from other people until your treatment has begun and your symptoms have eased.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of treatments available to buy which can help ease associated symptoms of tuberculosis (e.g., headache).



www.chemistonline.co.uk


Advice & Support
British Lung Foundation
Tel. 08458 50 50 20
Website: www.lunguk.org

British Thoracic Society
Tel. 020 7831 8778
Website: www.btir-thoracic.org.uk

TB Alert
Website: www.tbalert.org


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.




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