Many people are interested in whether tuberculosis can be cured or not. Modern medicine has made a breakthrough in methods and methods for curing this disease. Today they give positive prognoses to patients. The most important thing is to seek medical help in a timely manner. What methods are used in treatment? Can you trust folk recipes? We will try to find answers to these questions in the article.

This terrible word is tuberculosis

When faced with a terrible disease, patients have a question: “Is tuberculosis curable or not?” If in the 90s up to 80% of those sick died from the disease, in our time the percentage has decreased significantly. Modern medications and new treatment methods have appeared. Doctors talk about enormous progress in resolving this issue.

Do not forget that a positive result largely depends on how promptly the patient sought consultation.

Studying the symptoms

Every person should know the symptoms of the disease:

• Elevated temperature that lasts for a long time.
• General malaise: drowsiness, weakness, depression.
• Night sweats.
• Continuous cough.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Chest pain.

It is not necessary that all the symptoms “come out” at once. The first thing that should alert you is a cough that does not go away after taking the appropriate syrups and mixtures. In this case, you must consult a doctor and undergo a special examination (fluorography or x-ray). If the diagnosis is confirmed, only a doctor can answer the question of how to treat tuberculosis. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

Can tuberculosis be cured?

At the first suspicion of tuberculosis, you should immediately consult a doctor. The result of treatment depends on how quickly this is done. Unfortunately, many people put off visiting a medical center until the last minute, thereby only aggravating the situation. Doctors are often asked the question: “Is tuberculosis curable?” Experts give a positive answer to this.

First of all, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done using a special device - a fluorograph. Treatment in the future will depend on the form of tuberculosis. In cases with open outbreaks, it is planned to carry out special measures in tuberculosis dispensaries.

When answering the question about how long tuberculosis is treated, doctors do not give exact dates. This process is quite lengthy, on average it takes from 12 to 18 months. Treatment is carried out comprehensively. In addition to drugs that have an anti-tuberculosis effect, it is necessary to take drugs that increase the body’s immune qualities. Doctors prescribe appropriate dosages: they start with the minimum, eventually reaching the maximum amount. It is important that treatment is carried out under the constant supervision of a pulmonologist and physiotherapist.

Open form - is there a chance of recovery?

“How long does it take to treat tuberculosis?” - perhaps this is one of the most popular questions from patients. It all depends on the form of the disease. If it is open, the patient will have to spend more time in the hospital to prevent infection of people nearby. First of all, the doctor is faced with the task of converting the disease into a closed form. In this case, the outbreaks become safe for others. This can be done with the help of special drugs. They are quite expensive, but you can’t do without their help.

Answering the question whether open tuberculosis can be treated, experts give a positive prognosis. The only thing is that it will take more time and effort. Do not forget about drugs that are responsible for increasing the body’s immunity. During this period, it is important that all resources are used and the organs work at full capacity.

Features of treatment in children

The child can also become infected with tuberculosis. This happens if the parents did not immunize on time. In order to protect the baby, he is given a BCG vaccination while still in the maternity hospital. Then vaccination takes place according to a specific schedule approved by WHO.

Many parents are interested in: “Is there treatment for children?” The recovery process is complicated by the fact that most drugs are prohibited for children. They can cause serious disorders in the body, reduce immunity, change hormonal balance and much more. In this case, doctors offer the following treatment regimens:

1. Use medications that remove foci of tuberculosis.
2. Use immunostimulating tablets.
3. Don’t forget about additional techniques: breathing exercises, physiotherapy, acupuncture.

In cases where the above methods do not help, specialists have to resort to a drastic measure - surgical intervention. The lung is cleaned, lesions are treated, excess mucus and accumulated fluid are removed. After this, in 80% of cases, children have a chance of recovery.

Tuberculosis in old age. Is it treatable?

The situation is different for people over 55 years of age. It's all about the changes that occur in the body. In this case, doctors need to make every effort to cure the patient. not enough. The general condition of the patient is actively maintained. Vitamins and drugs that enhance immunity are prescribed.

As a rule, doctors do not give comforting prognoses. It is not possible to completely get rid of the disease. Specialists can only improve the patient’s general condition and eliminate the acute form of tuberculosis. In any case, older people are under the constant supervision of a pulmonologist.

Physiotherapy is a method that brings benefits

Many doctors offer physical therapy in addition to drug treatment. It can take different forms: ultrasound, infrared radiation, laser, application of a magnetic field and much more. It all depends on the severity of the disease. The main goals of this method are as follows:

Death of microorganisms and bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

Removal of phlegm and fluid from the bronchi and lungs.

Termination and relief of inflammatory processes.

Feeding the body with pure oxygen.

Restoration of lung tissue.

It is impossible to cure tuberculosis with physiotherapy alone. This method is only an addition to the main treatment. It helps speed up the healing process, improving the general condition of the patient.

Is there any point in breathing exercises?

Many experts have a positive attitude towards breathing exercises. They need to be performed daily, while monitoring the general condition of the patient. Gymnastics performs the following functions:

• Strengthens muscles, lungs, bronchi.
• Helps improve gas exchange. Oxygen reaches the lungs faster.
• Restores correct breathing rhythm.

There are quite a lot of exercises; only a doctor has the right to decide which of them to use in a particular case. In this case, constant monitoring of the patient's condition is necessary. It is advisable that the first procedures take place in the presence of a doctor or visiting nurse.

Many people ask: “Can tuberculosis be treated or not with breathing exercises?” Doctors assure that without intensive drugs that will destroy bacteria, it will not be possible to cope with the disease. Additional techniques can and should be used, but they are not fundamental in the treatment process.

Traditional treatment

Unfortunately, tuberculosis is a fairly common disease. To cope with it, many use folk recipes. Medvedka helps to overcome the disease. The fact is that leukocytes are present in sufficient quantities in the insect’s body. They are able to break down and remove it with sputum. It is necessary to dry the mole cricket, grind it into a paste and take it for at least 3 days. After this, there is copious discharge of sputum and a severe cough.

Regular badger fat will help boost your immunity. It can be purchased at a pharmacy. It is available in the form of tablets or capsules. To improve the effect, you need to eat a spoonful of honey at the same time.

Garlic and horseradish can help in the fight against the disease. They will not only strengthen the immune system, but will also promote the removal of sputum. Garlic can be consumed up to 5 heads per day. And the horseradish root is grated, placed in a three-liter jar, filled with whey and placed in a warm place for 4 days. After the expiration date, drink half a glass of the product per day.

Patients often ask the question: “Is tuberculosis treated or not using traditional methods?” Doctors are sure that you cannot self-medicate, this will only aggravate the situation and precious time will be lost. At the first signs of illness, you need to contact a specialist and have fluorography done.

When asked whether tuberculosis is curable or not, doctors give a positive answer. Thanks to modern medicine, strong drugs, and new developed techniques, it is possible to cope with the disease. To do this, you just need to promptly seek advice from specialists and follow all their instructions and recommendations.

The open form of tuberculosis is a form of the disease in which Mycobacterium tuberculosis is found in large quantities in the saliva and sputum of the patient. When coughing, sneezing and talking, the pathogen is released into the environment.

Characteristics of the pathogen

The disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is also called Koch bacilli in honor of the researcher who discovered them. I distinguish two types of mycobacteria - human and bovine. Bacteria have the appearance of polymorphic immobile rods. The formation of spores and capsules is not typical for them. Representatives of the bovine species are thicker and shorter than human mycobacteria.

Mycobacteria reproduce very slowly. For normal functioning they need oxygen, so Koch bacilli most often affect the lungs, although tuberculosis can develop in all tissues and organs.

Microbes are resistant to adverse environmental conditions and can survive for a long time in food, water, street and book dust. But under the influence of ultraviolet rays and high temperatures, mycobacteria die within a few minutes.

Certain types of Koch bacilli have developed resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. When exposed to drugs, they acquire the ability to branch or become cocciform.

Spread of infection: how can you become infected with an open form of tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is most often transmitted from person to person, but infection is possible through contact with sick animals and birds, consumption of contaminated food, and use of household items. There are known cases of transplacental transmission of the pathogen from a sick mother to a child.

Not in all cases, when a pathogen enters the body, tuberculosis develops. In the body of a healthy person, the infection can persist for years in a latent form. The first signs of the disease are observed when immunity decreases.

The likelihood of getting tuberculosis increases with:

• congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies;
• living in unfavorable living conditions;
• working in hazardous industries;
• malnutrition;
• hypovitaminosis;
• chronic systemic pathologies;
• long-term use of glucocorticosteroids;
• mental illness;
• depression;
• alcohol and cigarette abuse.

In fact, the only chance of definitely getting sick is communicating with a person who has an open form of tuberculosis. In order to understand the mechanism of infection, you do not need to have a medical education, you just need to understand the principle. The disease provokes the development of an inflammatory process in the body, accompanied by the appearance of small tubercles. In most cases, the disease affects the lungs and bronchi. The infection process is carried out as follows: pathogenic bacteria enter the body and spread through bronchopulmonary, lymphogenous and hematogenous routes. Single or multiple tubercles form in the patient's lungs. Tuberculosis has two forms: closed and open. At first, mycobacteria are contained in the tubercles themselves, without leaving them. In this case, the patient does not pose a threat to others, and it is impossible to become infected from him. The second form is extremely dangerous because the pathogen is released along with sputum.

Open tuberculosis is more often diagnosed in men than in women. The age of most patients is 30-40 years.

Symptoms of the disease

In the first 2-3 months after infection, tuberculosis can only be detected using laboratory methods. The beginning of the pathological process is indicated by a positive Mantoux test. Mycobacteria are also found in the lymph nodes, from which they spread throughout the body.

Tuberculosis can be:

• primary - beginning at the first contact with the pathogen;
• secondary - arising as a consequence of an existing disease.

At the initial stage of the disease, inflammation develops in the tissues of the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes. Then the lesion gradually resolves, and a lime capsule forms around it. The clinical picture depends on the state of the patient’s immune system and the presence of concomitant diseases.

With improper treatment or infection with drug-resistant mycobacteria, open tuberculosis becomes chronic. In older people or those with immunodeficiencies, bacteria spread throughout the body through the lymph flow. Miliary tuberculosis develops.

The following symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are distinguished:

• cough that gets worse at night;
• release of large amounts of sputum;
• fever;
• hemoptysis;
• chest pain;
• decreased appetite;
• sleep disorders;
• severe weight loss;
• general weakness.

The patient sweats heavily at night. Breathing becomes difficult. Patients with primary tuberculosis show signs of intoxication without visible changes in the lungs.

Diagnostic methods

If tuberculosis is suspected, the patient's social history is of great importance. After a survey and examination, the doctor prescribes:

• fluorographic or x-ray examination of the lungs;
• Mantoux test or Diaskintest;
• bacteriological examination of sputum or bronchial washings;
• blood test for the presence of antibodies to the causative agent of tuberculosis;
• testing for the presence of mycobacterial DNA in the blood;
• biochemical blood test;
• general blood and urine analysis.

X-rays help determine the extent of lung damage. As a preliminary diagnostic method, sputum is examined under a microscope.

The bacteriological method for diagnosing tuberculosis is highly effective and is also used to determine the resistance of mycobacteria to various drugs, monitor the success of treatment and identify virulent forms of the pathogen. But it takes at least 3-4 weeks to obtain a culture of mycobacteria. To identify the pathogen, accelerated cultivation methods are used.

In order to identify drug resistance of mycobacteria, they are placed on media containing antibiotics in various concentrations. The study is carried out before starting treatment, after 3 months and then every 6 months.

To detect L-forms of mycobacteria, a biological diagnostic method is used - the test material is injected into white mice or guinea pigs and the development of the disease in the animals is observed.

A specific way to detect tuberculosis is the Mantoux test. 0.1 ml of tuberculin is injected subcutaneously into the patient's forearm. After 2 days, the severity of the reaction is assessed. The appearance of a papule with an infiltrate of 5 mm or more in diameter at the injection site is regarded as a positive result. In this case, an additional examination is prescribed.

The patient's blood shows an acceleration of ESR and leukocytosis. A biochemical blood test shows increased levels of cholesterol, copper, uric acid, and protein.

Assessing the function of external respiration in tuberculosis helps doctors select optimal treatment methods, decide on the need for surgical intervention, and assess the effectiveness of the patient’s condition after a course of treatment.

Treatment

The open form of tuberculosis is treated in a hospital setting, where the risk of infecting other people is minimized. The patient is prescribed complex anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, including the following drugs:

• Streptomycin,
• Pyrazinamide,
• Ethambutanol,
• Isoniazid.

To suppress the activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a combination of several drugs is used. Treatment results are assessed every 3 months. The disease caused by drug-resistant strains of microorganisms should be treated with second-line drugs: Fluoroquinolones, Ethionamide, Capreomycin, Cycloserine and para-aminosalicylic acid.

To generally strengthen the body, the patient is prescribed immunomodulators and vitamins. Antibiotics and antifungal drugs prevent secondary infections. Glucocorticoids for tuberculosis are prescribed with caution, as they suppress the immune system.

If drug therapy is insufficiently effective and there are vital indications, surgical removal of the lung or part of it is performed.

Tuberculosis has long been considered in medicine as one of the most common and dangerous diseases. Despite all the achievements of modern science, the disease cannot be defeated, and people continue to die from it every year. The disease is insidious in its unpredictability; it has several behavior patterns.

Depending on various circumstances, a tuberculosis infection can go undetected or cause serious health problems, including death.

Is tuberculosis contagious and how contagious? Let’s look at this in more detail.

The degree of danger depends on the form and stage in which the disease is determined in a person. The most dangerous is. A disease in a closed form (latent) has less ability to transmit infection to the external environment.

Having invaded the body, mycobacteria may not manifest itself for years. The person is completely unaware that his condition poses a threat to others—his health does not give any signals of an “invasion.” Meanwhile, the infection begins to slowly but methodically spread throughout the internal organs - tuberculous intoxication of the body occurs.

Harmful bacteria travel through the bloodstream through cells, choosing to stop the most unprotected organs of the human body. Having established themselves in a convenient place, mycobacteria begin their destructive work.

From this moment on, a person is considered a carrier of tuberculosis, and he becomes especially dangerous to society.

If the body is strong, the immune system is mobilized to fight the aggressor. Weak immunity is not able to cope with Koch's bacillus on its own; it requires long-term and serious treatment.

Tuberculosis begins its development with the formation of primary affect in the affected area. Koch bacilli are captured by macrophages (special cells capable of aggressively capturing other bacteria, particles of dead cells, and other microparticles harmful to the body), penetrating into the lymphatic system.

Mycobacteria have two routes of penetration into organs: lymphogenous or hematogenous.

In the affected areas, a granulomatous process begins to develop: focal necrosis forms in the central part, surrounded by lymphocytes, macrophages, and epithelial cells. The result of granuloma is sclerosis.

In medicine, it is customary to divide the disease into pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms. The first is the most common, the second is numerous and has many variations.

Tuberculosis at the beginning of its journey: how contagious is the initial form of the disease?

There is an opinion that in the embryonic state the infection is quite harmless and tuberculosis infection cannot occur - the bacilli are still too weak and have a short-term effect on the body. However, this is not entirely true. It all depends on the form of manifestation of the disease, which regulates the degree of its contagiousness.

There is no clear answer to the question of whether tuberculosis is transmitted at the initial stage. First of all, it is necessary to understand which phase is considered the initial one: the actual introduction of mycobacteria into organs, or its infiltrative form.

If the definition means the first option, the starting point of tuberculosis is not terrible. In addition, the disease may not manifest itself in any way throughout the life of the infected person.

Another thing is the infiltrative phase. This stage is highly contagious, since the hallmark of this phase is a characteristic cough that sprays droplets of sputum into the environment.

The initial stage, even in its most harmless form, is a serious reason to pay attention to your own health, so as not to miss the possible moment of transition of harmless, “dormant” tuberculosis into an active form with the most serious consequences.

“Risk groups”: who is at risk from Koch’s wand

Just a few years ago, it was believed that only disadvantaged segments of the population get sick with tuberculosis - prisoners in prison, people without a fixed place of residence and other citizens leading an asocial lifestyle.

The disease in such cases had an open, long-standing form and was maximally contagious to the environment of the carrier.

Often the disease was detected in people in difficult living conditions, with low incomes, and socially unprotected. However, recently mycobacteria have begun to be diagnosed in quite healthy people. It turned out that no one is protected from tuberculosis - the disease is so tenacious and omnivorous.

Diabetics, people with gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in the case of constant hormonal treatment should be especially attentive to the possibility of “acquiring” the disease.

The most “infectious” forms of the disease

If the diagnosis is accurately established, the first thing that interests the sick person and his everyday environment is whether the detected disease is contagious or not, how successfully it is cured.

Open pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the most dangerous diseases. This variety poses a health threat not only to the carrier itself, but also to everyone who somehow comes into contact with him in everyday life.

In this case, the highest ability of mycobacteria to infect everyone within a radius of several tens of meters from the owner of the Koch bacillus is observed.

Transmission of a pulmonary infection occurs through airborne droplets when a sick person coughs or sneezes.

It “distributes” many tiny tuberculosis bacilli into the environment and soil from infected sputum, which is spat out by the carrier of the disease.

Tuberculosis is insidious and infectious, having “made a nest” in other organs: kidneys, bone tissue, lymphatic system, genitals. The number of people infected with extrapulmonary species is somewhat less than those with pulmonary tuberculosis, but here, too, severe complications and death are common results.

Infection can be avoided: measures to prevent tuberculosis

Unfortunately, even the most experienced and titled doctor is unable to guarantee protection against tuberculosis infection - the area of ​​spread of the infection is too large. However, a few useful pieces of knowledge can help you take steps to protect yourself from this serious disease.

Firstly, try to avoid direct contact with carriers of open tuberculosis. If contact is unavoidable (in case of illness among family members), it is not always possible to completely eliminate the risk of infection. In this case, you must carefully follow the recommendations of the doctor treating the sick relative.

The room must be ventilated and disinfected—mycobacterium tuberculosis retains its ability to infect for quite a long time. The patient must be provided with dishes and personal hygiene items for individual use.

Second rule - In public places, it is necessary to stay away from fellow citizens who are coughing or sneezing, especially if saliva is freely sprayed into the air.

The listed measures can reduce the possibility of contracting an infection, but a more significant guarantee is timely vaccinations against tuberculosis, regular visits to the fluorography room and timely treatment of detected tuberculosis.

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Signs of open form of pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is one of the most common and dangerous diseases in the world, from which no one is safe, since it is transmitted by airborne droplets.

To reduce the possible risks of contracting this disease, you need to know as much information as possible about it and how to treat it.

Risk of infection with open form of tuberculosis

In order for the open form of tuberculosis to begin to manifest itself, two very important conditions are needed - weakened immunity or a provoking factor.

This means that a person who is in good health and does not have any problems is less likely to become infected with tuberculosis than someone who already has any chronic diseases.

Disease of any of the organs or the transfer of an infectious disease is a factor in the fact that the immune system is currently fighting other diseases and cannot devote sufficient resources to resist infection with Koch’s bacillus.

In addition, the immune system can be weakened not only due to any ailments, but also due to a lack of useful elements that enter the body with food. This means that people who are poorly nourished are more likely to contract tuberculosis.

Vitamins, micro- and macro-elements must be supplied to the body in optimal quantities, so this needs to be monitored.

An increased risk exists in some social groups, among which are:

• — children and teenagers;
• — pregnant women;
• - older people.

This is due to the fact that their neuro-endocrine functions of the body are quite unstable.

Children They have not yet acquired proper immunity, so it is at the stage of formation.

Pregnant women are susceptible to the disease, since their body needs to be responsible for two for a certain period of time.

Elderly people due to their age and possible diseases of a different nature, they lose the resource of the immune system that they had before.

There is also an increased risk of infection in the community medical workers due to their close contact with patients.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to adhere to all internal hospital rules, which relate to mandatory sanitary and hygienic procedures, disinfection, and wearing masks.

People living in bad social conditions , are also at risk of contracting open tuberculosis due to many reasons.

In order not to become infected with the open form of tuberculosis, you must:

1. Adhere to relevant sanitary and hygienic rules;
2. Limit contact with sick people;
3. Periodically undergo preventive examinations.

To reduce the risk after a potential infection, you need to take several steps:

• - consume at least 150 grams of foods rich in animal fats;
• - do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke;
• - monitor the intake of vitamins in the body;
• - avoid repeated contact with an infected person;
• - be outside and lead a healthy lifestyle.

If you have come into contact with an infected person with an open form of tuberculosis, you should consult a phthisiatrician.

Often, the doctor prescribes additional examination to confirm or refute the diagnosis. It includes:

1. Mantoux test;
2. Chest X-ray;
3. Examination of urine, blood and sputum.

Contact adults need to be tested once a year, while children need to be tested twice as often.

Symptoms of open tuberculosis

The open form of pulmonary tuberculosis is the most dangerous type of this disease, as it is the most dangerous to society. First of all, this applies to people who are in contact with a sick person, or close to him.

In order not to expose yourself to the risk of infection, you need to know what distinctive signs this disease has and how you can detect a person suffering from it.

Koch bacillus bacteria are excreted along with the patient’s sputum and can end up in the respiratory tract of everyone who is at a sufficient distance from him in just a matter of minutes.

A person suffering from this form of tuberculosis is a potential threat, as it becomes a source of infection.

After infection, symptoms may not appear for some time, which is the incubation period. It often lasts from three to twelve weeks, but in certain cases it can last for months or years.

The most noticeable sign of the disease is persistent severe cough , which worsens significantly at night and in the morning. At the very beginning of the development of tuberculosis, it can be dry, but over time it gradually turns into wet.

This is due to the fact that sputum appears in the lungs, which the sick person coughs up and expectorates. This symptom becomes chronic over time and does not go away unless appropriate treatment is carried out.

In some cases, in advanced stages of the disease, a person may feel pain in the lung area.

Another sign of the open form of pulmonary tuberculosis is discharge of a small amount of blood along with sputum when coughing. But this symptom may not manifest itself, as it often occurs in the later stages without any treatment.

Body temperature of a sick person for a long time is slightly elevated. Such a low-grade fever, reaching 37-37.5 degrees Celsius, has almost no effect on a person, and he does not feel it. At night, sweating often increases and chills appear, which disappear during the day.

Over time, a patient with an open form of tuberculosis begins to feel fatigue and get tired much faster. This accordingly affects his performance, including the performance of any physical activity.

A person suffering from tuberculosis may lose appetite. In a number of cases he has sleep disappears one of the factors of which is a constant cough that interferes with a normal night's rest.

Another sign of tuberculosis, like many other diseases, is enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes, responding to the presence of infection in the body.

How is open tuberculosis transmitted?

Open tuberculosis is transmitted in most cases by airborne droplets. At the same time, it is also impossible to exclude the contact-household method of transmission.

The source of bacteria is often a sick person.

It spreads small mycobacteria that can penetrate directly into the respiratory tract of the interlocutor or settle on any objects.

Mycobacteria can survive even on dust, so it is very easy to become infected with them when using the same objects. In addition, the use of public institutions and transport, even short-term, can lead to the transmission of an open form of tuberculosis from one person to many others.

There are even quite rare cases when infection occurs through animals. First of all, this concerns cattle, which, just like humans, can suffer from tuberculosis.

Transmission can occur through milk, as it contains mycobacteria that cause the disease. When they enter the human body, they begin to assimilate, subsequently causing tuberculosis of various forms, including open tuberculosis.

Treatment of open form of pulmonary tuberculosis

The open form of pulmonary tuberculosis, like the closed form, is subject to effective treatment. Its duration and complexity directly depend on the stage of the disease at which the patient consulted a doctor.

The more time has passed since infection, the greater the likelihood that treatment for the disease will be lengthy and unpleasant.

In any case, a person will need to take special medications for a long time and fulfill a number of other doctor’s requirements.

Qualified treatment

The open form of pulmonary tuberculosis is best treated with the help of a qualified specialist, since self-treatment at home rarely leads to complete recovery. In addition, during the time spent on this type of therapy, the disease can worsen and lead to more serious consequences.

After self-medication, it will be much more difficult to carry out normal tuberculosis therapy.

After the first infection with tuberculosis, a person is prescribed up to 5 different drugs, which he must take for six months. If you take any breaks, the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics, so it is best to take the pills constantly.

Some time after you start taking it, you will need to take additional tests to see the dynamics of the disease. Based on these data, the doctor will decide whether to continue taking the medications or replace them with other medications.

After a course of taking medications, you will need to take repeated tests and undergo research. Based on the results of long-term treatment, it will be possible to decide whether to extend therapy or discontinue it.

In some cases, treatment of open tuberculosis can take many years.

Nutrition

Nutrition also plays a very important role in treatment, as it significantly increases the body’s immune system in the fight against the disease.

It must contain a full range of substances a person needs for the normal functioning of all his organs. Therefore, a therapeutic diet is often prescribed in combination with drug therapy.

Self-medication and prolonged failure to contact specialists in half of the cases leads to death or advanced stages of the disease, which are very difficult to eliminate in the future.

Prevention

After the patient has been completely cured, he should not forget about precautions and some rules. One of them is maintaining the body's immune system at the proper level.

To do this, you can take certain medications for preventive purposes to help fight various infections. A diet containing plenty of vitamins and proteins must continue to be followed.

You also need, as during treatment, to stop drinking alcohol and smoking.

More information about tuberculosis

Living with a person who has open tuberculosis in the same apartment is a risk of infection. This applies primarily to the sharing of certain parts of the house, including the kitchen, toilet and bathroom.

Even with separate use, the risk of infection remains very high, so patients must live isolated from others until their disease ceases to be dangerous to society.

If a neighbor with open form of tuberculosis lives in a separate apartment, the risk of infection is small, but it exists.

In such cases, it is necessary to periodically take tests, and you can also disinfect the corridor of the house and staircases. This precaution can temporarily remove pathogenic microorganisms that may have remained on walls, railings or door handles.

It is worth understanding that if a neighbor deliberately refuses treatment if he has an open form of tuberculosis, by a court decision he may be forcibly hospitalized.

In order not to become infected with tuberculosis from a loved one, you must adhere to certain rules. If the contact is close enough, it is impossible to avoid the disease.

First of all, you need to use special protective masks that can prevent mycobacteria from entering the respiratory tract. It is also necessary to spend more time in the fresh air and periodically undergo examination by a phthisiatrician.

The doctor must determine a set of tests and other methods for studying the presence of tuberculosis independently based on the data provided to him.

It is worth remembering that the apartment in which a person lived with an open form of tuberculosis is also a source of infection. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out special disinfections to eliminate all mycobacteria that could remain after it.

Special services are engaged in such activities. It is impossible to get rid of the consequences of the disease on your own. In addition, the problem is that Koch bacillus bacteria are quite stable and can remain active on the surface of many objects for many months.

At the first symptoms that characterize the open form of tuberculosis, you must seek help from a medical institution. Often, a sick person will need to spend a certain amount of time in hospital treatment in order to prevent the possibility of infecting other people.

The open form of tuberculosis is a complex and serious disease, which in the past centuries of the 19th and 20th centuries claimed the lives of many people. Preventive measures, namely mandatory vaccination at birth and repeated at the age of 7 years, reduced the risk of the disease in the second half of the 20th century. But a new panacea for getting rid of the disease has still not been invented. What is tuberculosis? This disease is not only infectious, but also social. It is necessary for every person to know what the signs are, because the disease affects not only the lower parts of the respiratory system, but can also have manifestations of tuberculosis of the bones and skin.

The tuberculosis bacillus was discovered by scientist Robert Koch, and the bacterium was named after him. To combat the disease, tuberculin was created, which was previously applied to an open wound. The French physician Charles Mantoux improved this process and, as a result, tuberculin was introduced under the skin.

There are three forms of the disease:

1. initial stage;
2. latent period;
3. open form of tuberculosis.

The initial stage is characterized by a mild inflammation process. Doctors have come to the consensus that such a hidden period lasts from two to three months. The infectious focus turns into a nodule called caseosis. On an x-ray of the lungs, this compaction is clearly visible.

The latent stage is dormant and this virus may not manifest itself. As soon as the immune system weakens, it will make itself felt. If the bacilli have settled in the body with weak immunity, then they can remain there until pneumonia appears. It is impossible to become infected from a person who has a latent form of the disease; viruses will not be transmitted. But there is a danger that the latent form will become open.

The open form of tuberculosis is when the infectious focus breaks through and the bacilli penetrate the respiratory organs. The membrane that protects the bacterium from the action of immune cells breaks. The lungs weaken and inflammation may begin. In this case, the infection spreads through the blood to other organs and the lining of the brain. Open tuberculosis in the lungs produces painful miliary Milium bacilli, which are called "millet". Milium is translated from Latin as millet.

A person with an open form of tuberculosis becomes the object of transmission of bacteria by coughing, sneezing or through household contact. The most accessible place for them is lung tissue. Symptoms of the open form of tuberculosis may not be obvious at the first stage; a person can go to work, communicate with people and spread a bad infection

Risk groups susceptible to the disease

The following people are likely to get this disease:

1. HIV infected. Tuberculosis develops as a complication in them.
2. Doctors take first place because when treating patients they have direct contact with them. A mask and gloves are a must for any medical worker.
3. Pensioners, children and pregnant women. The pulmonary factor of these people is characterized by instability of endocrine and nervous functions.
4. Antisocial people: homeless people and drug addicts, alcoholics and people released from prison, migrants and refugees, displaced persons.
5. Persons with weakened immune systems, patients with cancer and diabetes. This group is susceptible to the disease due to reduced immunity

How can you get tuberculosis?

The open form is considered the most dangerous. You need to know a minimum of knowledge about open tuberculosis and how it is transmitted.

You can infect:

• by air and droplets through breath and saliva;
• through household items that are shared with a sick person;
• In rare cases, the culprit of the disease may be livestock. If an animal is sick, then its milk contains a pathogen and, if it gets into food, it is transmitted to humans.

The bacillus is not afraid of either acid or alkali. Even if it hits objects, it does not die. If a sick person coughs or sneezes, the bacilli are transmitted to nearby people. Open-form Koch bacilli are so dangerous that sick people are placed in special institutions.

Clear signs

They are obvious and indicate the presence of infection:

1. severe cough during exertion and at night, possibly with blood discharge;
2. excessive sweating at night;
3. high temperature;
4. severe weakness of the body, apathy and depression;
5. copious sputum production;
6. frequent shortness of breath, signs of pulmonary failure can be observed;
7. sudden weight loss;
8. headaches;
9. lack of appetite.

Types of diagnostics

The disease in its early stages requires a comprehensive examination. Medical workers carry out the following types of diagnostics:

Mantoux test. If tuberculosis is suspected, tuberculin is administered. If the first signs indicate an increase in the button by more than 5 cm, then infection can be safely diagnosed.

Diasken test. This is a modern version of Mantoux. This test has a valid answer.

X-ray. The picture will show lumps or the lungs will look like bags of millet.

Sputum check. This is the best way to test for bacteria.

Bronchoscopy. It is carried out when it is not possible to obtain sputum.

Blood test. It is used as an additional method.

To isolate from other people, patients with open tuberculosis are placed in a special room at a tuberculosis dispensary.

Treatment

Usually, when people learn about open tuberculosis, they begin to panic. The state of people is understandable when they find out that they have been in contact with a sick person, and the sick person is afraid that he may lose his job and friends. If a person is not treated with an open form, then in a maximum of six months he will die.

Treatment, first of all, involves isolating patients in special institutions. Tuberculosis, especially if it is open, is treated with special antibacterial drugs and a complex of vitamins, as well as oxygen therapy. Patients use only personal utensils and bedding. The sputum is spat into a special container that is tightly covered. Paper napkins are burned. If destructive changes in the lungs occur, then surgery is prescribed.

The bacillus is resistant to antibiotics. Long-term use of potent drugs affects the general condition of the patient. Even after treatment, a person has to recover for a long time. Treatment can last from six months to two years. after treatment it leaves scars and marks on the lungs.

Conclusion

The paradox of this disease is that the open form of tuberculosis has been well studied, but no new drugs have been invented to treat this disease. The negative thing is that Koch's bacillus is resistant to antibiotics. Treatment is carried out with the same drugs that were used 20 years ago. Currently, more modern drugs are used: Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide and Isoniazid.

Of course, I would like to know the answer to the question: is tuberculosis curable? We can say yes. If the treatment regimen was applied correctly and all instructions were followed, then pulmonary tuberculosis can be cured even in such a stage as the open form.

To prevent illness, you must follow simple instructions:

• get rid of the bad habit of smoking and alcohol;
• exercise;
• every person should know how this disease is transmitted;
• maintain hygiene, wash your hands before eating and upon arriving home;
• do fluorography annually;
• consume vitamins and beneficial microelements.

The treatment course of the disease is 85% successful, however, there are situations when open tuberculosis takes the form of chronic. If the disease is treated inadequately, then such patients live no more than six years. But good therapy, alternative medicine, reorganizing life in bad habits can significantly affect a positive result. It is difficult to say how long the treated people live in total, because life factors, medications, balanced diet and much more can play a role here.