Know Everything About TB
TB – Tuberculosis is a serious infection that usually affects the lungs. It’s an opportunistic disease that preys on those who have weaker immune systems. Anyone can develop active TB, however, you’re more likely to develop it if you already have a poor immune system or in poor health. Most cases are cured with proper treatment. Without treatment, Tuberculosis may progress or be fatal. You’ll need a long course of treatment, at least 6 to 9 months, and it’s important to take the treatment properly to cure the TB.
TB is contagious. It spreads from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, spit or sneeze, they propel the TB germs into the air. An individual needs to inhale only a few of these germs in order to become infected.
How TB Infects A Person?
Most cases affect the lungs at first. Tuberculosis bacteria is sneezed or coughed into the air by people with active TB disease. These germs are carried in the air in tiny water droplets. If you breathe in some of them, they may multiply in your lung. The infection can progress in 3 ways
Minor Infection With No Symptoms
- People who are with good health breathes in, then the bacteria don’t develop active TB. TB bacteria that you breathe in begin to multiply in the lung. This as well stimulates your immune system into action.
- These germs are killed or made inactive by your immune system. You may feel no symptoms or some mild symptoms for a short time, and the infection is halted.
- You’re not usually aware that you’ve had this mild infection. Just a small scar on the lung may be seen on a chest X-ray. This could be the only indication of a previous TB infection!
Progression of TB
- If a person’s immune system doesn’t win the battle and halts the invading bacteria, the germs multiply further and spread to other parts of the lung as well as the body. Usually, the symptoms of active TB develop about 6-8 weeks post first breathing in some bacteria.
- TB infection that progresses to active disease can occur to anybody who is infected with the same bacteria. but, it’s more likely if you’re already in poor health. For instance, it’s common in malnutrition children in developing countries. Newborn infants are also more at risk of active TB!
Secondary Infection
Few people develop active Tuberculosis months or years after a minor TB infection that had been halted. Their body’s immune system at first stops the bacteria from multiplying. However, not all the bacteria might be killed. Some bacteria that are ‘walled off’ in the scar tissue of the initial minor infection. They’re stopped from multiplying by the immune system. This inactive TB bacteria may later start to multiply and cause active Tuberculosis. A weak immune system as well a are active TB are more likely to occur if you’ve one among these conditions:
- Elderly or frail
- Malnourished
- Diabetes
- Steroids or immunosuppressant medication
- kidney failure
- Alcoholic
Causes
- TB is caused by bacteria which spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. It can happen when someone with the untreated and active form of TB speaks, sneezes, coughs, spits, laughs or sings.
- Even though tuberculosis is contagious, it is not easy to catch. You are much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you work with or live with than from a stranger. Most of the people with active TB who have had appropriate treatment for at least 2 weeks are no longer contagious!
Symptoms of TB
While latent Tuberculosis is symptomless, the symptoms of active TB include the following:
- Coughing, sometimes with mucus or blood
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of weight
- Night sweats
This usually affects the lungs, however it can also affect other parts of the body. When tuberculosis occurs outside of the lungs, the symptoms vary accordingly. So, without treatment, it can spread to other parts of the body through your bloodstream:
Infected
- Bones can lead to spinal pain and joint destruction
- Brain can cause meningitis
- Liver and kidneys can impair their waste filtration functions as well as lead to blood in the urine
- Heart can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood, resulting in a condition called as cardiac tamponade that can be fatal.
Home remedies
Garlic
An innate analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, garlic possesses the potential to inhibit TB and prevent its recurrence. Consuming milk and garlic decoction is beneficial for curing tuberculosis.
How To Use?
- Crush four garlic cloves and simmer it in 1 liter of goat milk along with one grated coconut until the milk is reduced to half.
- Then add a little honey and drink this on an empty stomach for 6 weeks in the morning to make sure freedom from TB.
Drumstick Leaves
Antibacterial properties enable drumstick to ease tuberculosis symptoms. While getting rid of the bacteria from the lungs, drumstick also alleviates the inflammation and pain experienced during TB.
How To Use?
- Prepare a soup by simmering a handful of clean and fresh drumstick leaves in water for about 10 minutes.
- Then add a little salt, black pepper and lemon juice to the soup.
- You can consume this soup twice a day for better results.
Custard Apple
Custard apple is yet another effective home remedy for tuberculosis. The revitalizing and rejuvenating properties of it enables the body to combat this condition in a very efficient way. They are rich with antioxidants like Vitamin C, which scavenge the free radicals and thwart oxidative damage. Als, Potassium, will help in strengthening the lung muscles.
How To Use?
- Deseed 2 custard apples, crush the pulp, and simmer it along with the black raisins in about two cups water.
- Strain the mixture. Add ¼ tsp cinnamon powder, ¼ tsp cardamom powder, flavor with sugar candy and drink this everyday for faster healing.
The Dos And Don’ts
- Include lots of Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and iron-rich foods in your diet.
- Keep away from allergens that could worsen the symptoms
- Keep yourself hydrated with water and fresh juices.
- Say yes to whole grains, leafy greens, and fruits.
- Avoid processed foods, aerated drinks, white flour and white sugar.
- Choose lean protein sources over heavy meats.
- Avoid smoking and alcoholism.
- Say no to coffee and tea.
- Take plenty of rest.
- Finally, keep your stress at bay
TB, if diagnosed in the preliminary stages, can be cured. Nonetheless, the utmost caution has to be exercised when it comes to the treatment. Don’t forgo your medications. Don’t forget, home remedies for tuberculosis are effective only when used along with the medications. Stay active and keep safe!
