Tuberculosis (TB) is a common and deadly contagious disease. It spreads through the air like common cold. When infectious people cough, sneeze, talk or spit, they release TB germs, known as bacilli, into the air. One needs only to inhale a small number of these to be infected. Tuberculosis most commonly attacks the lungs but can also affect the lymphatic system,central nervous system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, bones, joints and even the skin. TB has infected one-third of the world’s current population. Everyone who is infected does not develop the disease. Latent infection without symptoms is most common. One in ten latent infections will progress to active disease, which, if left untreated, is fatal for the majority of its victims.
With treatment there is good chances of recovery. There are 3 important things to be followed:
- The regimen must include many drugs to which the organisms are susceptible.
- The TB patient must take the medication on a regular basis.
- Therapy must continue for a sufficient amount of time.
Current Tuberculosis Cure
The most common medications used to treat active TB include:
- Isoniazid (INH)
- Rifampin (RIF)
- Ethambutol
- Pyrazinamide.
- close contact with a person with infectious Tuberculosis.
- a positive tuberculin skin test reaction and an abnormal chest x-ray that suggests inactive TB
- a tuberculin skin test that changed from negative to positive within the past two years
- a positive skin test reaction and a special medical condition (for example, AIDS or HIV infection or diabetes) or who are on corticosteroid therapy a positive skin test reaction, even with none of the above risk factors (in those under 35)
Even if susceptibility testing reveals that the patient is infected with an isoniazid-resistant strain, the isoniazid component is continued because some organisms may yet be sensitive. In addition, two drugs to which the organisms are likely to be sensitive also are incorporated into the regimen.
The starting stage of treatment is critical for preventing the emergence of drug resistance and ensuring a good outcome. Drug resistance may be either primary or acquired. Primary resistance occurs in patients who have had no previous antimycobacterial treatment. Acquired resistance occurs in patients who have been treated in the past, and it is usually is a result of non-adherence to the recommended regimen or incorrect prescribing.
It has been estimated that one in seven cases of TB is resistant to drugs that previously cured the disease. Resistance arises when patients fail to complete their drug therapy, lasting six months or longer. The hardiest TB bacteria are allowed to survive as a result, and as they multiply, they spread their genes to a new generation of bacteria - and to new victims.
For a person with latent TB, a cure usually comes after at least 6 months of treatment with isoniazid.
Cure for Tuberculosis in the Developing World
Most people in the developing world don't have access to TB drugs. This leads to unnecessary fatalities.
Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Cure
Because of improper consumption of drugs strains of tubeculosis develop which are resistant to drug treatment. This is very difficult to cure. Patients are required to be treated at least for 2 years