Probable tuberculosis (Photo credit: sandrabermudez)I never imagined that I would get this kind of illness as the common symptoms were not visible at times. First of all, I am overweight. Second of all, I don't suffer severe cough. Yet, it was in October 2008 when I coughed fresh blood (excuse for those sensitive brains) and suddenly I felt numbness because of nervousness. I eventually thought I would die and the end is near. I went to the doctor and got my chest radiated on the x-ray (lol). The results said Koch's extensive with cavity. After that I have to undergo three sputum examinations in two days. Praying that it would be negative but sorry to say that it was a big POSITIVE. (I was still on denial even if I knew that the results would be it after coughing those red fluids.)
The doctor specializing in Pulmonary cases from the Quezon Institute (I'm sorry I forgot your name doc but thank you very much for the great advice and help) immediately referred me to a DOTS Course (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) in Malolos Health Center, all for free. I was treated for six months, two months of extensive phase and four months of maintenance. I left my work in those period. After the treatment, I was cured and able to work again.
Sad to say, the scar (in the lungs) is there forever. All previous x-ray plates of the patient must be kept so that next time that a chest x-ray will be needed, the radiologist will compare if the spot or infiltrates visible are stable. That means no bacteria is causing it to evolve into any suspicious haziness. Although some doctors will still require sputum examinations just to make sure no bacteria is present.
Let me summarize the truths about tuberculosis:
1. Anyone can acquire the disease and there is no exception. It depends on the person's immune system for the bacteria to be active.
2. The bacteria can be acquired through the air we breathe. Once acquired, it lives inside the body. The rays of the sun can kill it outside the body.
3. Chest x-ray is not enough for a diagnosis of TB. Any suspected patient must undergo direct sputum smear microscopy. If the sputum is negative and the patient is still suspected to carry the disease because of the symptoms (underweight, severe cough for two weeks), the patient will be referred to a panel of doctors for evaluation and right treatment.
4. A TB carrier must wear mask to protect people around him. He must be in a well-ventilated room with sunlight as much as possible. There is no need to isolate the patient. A patient is considered non-infectious in two weeks of treatment.
5. The patient must strictly follow the prescription medicines for six straight months. Tuberculosis is a mutant disease and once the bacteria became immune, the patient will take more time to be cured (the least will be eight months and even long years with vaccination).
6. While undergoing medications, some side effects will be: orange-like color of urine, numbness of arms or limbs, tolerable chest or back pains, and darker skin color. It is important to take vitamins (B-complex or any prescribed by physician) while treatment as some organs are sensitive to the medicine such as kidney and liver. Drink lots of water to flush out dark colored urine.
7. TB is curable but scars will still be in the lungs (just like any other wound) and once you undergo chest x-ray exam, the radiologist might read it as PTB suspicious or something like that. It is important to keep previous x-rays and inform the radiologist on the PTB history for the radiologist to compare if the visible spot is stable meaning it might be the scar caused by previous PTB.
And most important of all, follow your health partners, increase the immune system and have proper hygiene.
Well, at least it's good to know you survived. This is a very informative article, thanks! :)
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