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TB
Introduction
Tuberculosis (TB) is a
bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs. In 15% of patients
it affects other areas, causing swollen lymph nodes, pleurisy and
meningitis. It may also affect the kidneys, urinary tract, genitals,
thyroid, bones, and joints. TB in the lungs or throat is the most
infectious form. In 1993 the World Health Organization called
tuberculosis a "global emergency," with an estimated 8 million new
cases of tuberculosis each year.
Epidemiology of TB
Epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis are still not clear.
There were an estimated 8.4 million new cases of tuberculosis in
1999; up from 8 million in 1997, if this trend continues, some 12
million new cases could occur each year by 2010. A
danger facing all countries is the emergence of drug resistant TB
that is difficult to treat. A single person with contagious TB can
infect between 10-15 people a year.
HIV is also fuelling TB in parts of Asia, which has about 60% of all
TB cases. Globally, 12% of TB patients are infected with HIV.
HIV and TB are closely linked. Nearly 70% of TB patients are
infected with HIV. In addition, up to 50% of people living with HIV
can expect to develop TB. Worldwide, 36.1 million people are
infected with HIV and 95% of them live in developing countries,
where TB rates are highest. About 13 million people are infected
with both HIV and M. tuberculosis.
TB and HIV are both enhanced by poverty, homelessness, substance
abuse, psychological stress, and poor nutritional status, crowded
living conditions
TB is the first manifestation of AIDS especially in case of
developing countries. Nearly two thirds of all people with HIV or
AIDS were living in the countries with the highest TB burden in the
world.
PR-WHO/14 22 March 2001
Experts believe that about half of the Indian population is
infected with TB bacilli.
The groups that are at high risk include: People with HIV
infection (the AIDS virus) People
in close contact with those known to be infectious with TB People
with medical conditions that make the body less able to protect
itself from disease (for example: diabetes, the dust disease
silicosis, or people undergoing treatment with drugs that can
suppress the immune system, such as long-term use of
corticosteroids)
people from countries with high TB rates, some racial or ethnic
minorities. People who work in or are residents of long-term care
facilities (nursing homes, prisons, some hospitals). People who are
mal-nourished. Alcoholics and IV drug users.
Disease development: Usually
there is a time delay between infection and the development of
full-blown TB. Many who are infected with TB never develop the
disease. In some people it is possible for the TB bacteria to remain
inactive for a lifetime without ever causing disease. But in others,
who have weakened immune systems, the bacteria become active. The
type of symptoms will depend on where in the body the TB bacteria
are growing. Typically, TB bacteria that grow in the lungs may
cause:
* Mild fever, headache, chills, night sweats
* Malaise (feeling unwell), fatigue
* Loss of appetite, weight loss
* Cough, with or without sputum
* Coughing up blood
* Chest pain from pleurisy
* Difficulty breathing
* Swollen glands
Treatment plan
In allopathy there is a fixed treatment plan for the
fresh cases of TB called four drugs regime for two months followed
by three drugs regime for next four months. Emergency treatment may
be necessary if a patient is coughing up blood.
Complementary and Alternative
Therapies
While it is tempting to think that establishing good
nutrition may restore damaged immune function or that dietary
supplements may prevent TB infection, effective control of TB
depends on appropriate use of medications. Researchers continue,
however, to investigate the potential of vitamins and herbs to
combat TB.
Homeopathy in TB
If a homeopath is able to draw a clear-cut picture of a
homeopathic medicine on the basis of totality of symptoms can cure a
case of even drug resistant TB. Professional homeopaths, however,
may recommend one or more of the following treatments for
tuberculosis based on their knowledge and clinical experience.
Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's
constitutional type. In homeopathic terms, a person's constitution
is his or her physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An
experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining
the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.
Prognosis and complications
A full course of allopathic medication can cure TB mostly
in those who do not have a drug-resistant strain. The outcome may be
less promising in patients who are elderly, those who have TB that
has spread to locations other than the lungs including miliary TB
(which spreads through the bloodstream affecting many organ
systems), drug-resistant strains of TB, or those with HIV.
But this all is not been found in case of homeopathic treatment.
* Usual complications of TB are:
* Development of a drug-resistant strain.
* TB associated with HIV.
* TB-related meningitis, mostly in children.
* Pneumothorax (collapse of a lung with air in the thorax).
* Empyema (pus in thorax).
* Haemopsis (Massive coughing up of blood).
* Pleural thickness hampering respiration.
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