HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH TUBERCULOSIS
HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH TUBERCULOSIS

Summary/Abstract: Tuberculosis is a chronic infection disease caused by infection with tubercle bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It is usually localized in the lungs, but can be spread to any organ or tissue in the human body. In 2018 the world has registered 10 million patients, 1,5 million deaths from this disease including 251 000 deaths due to TB disease in HIV positive individuals. The disease is transmitted through the air, when people with TB cough, sneeze or talk. General symptoms are: loss of appetite, weakening, malaise, night sweats, cough, sometimes with blood in the spleen, elevated body temperature. For diagnosis, microbiological and biochemical investigations, radiological examination, chest computed tomography and ultrasonography are performed. The microbiological diagnosis is based on two basic methods, microscopy and culture, which enable detection of tuberculous bacillus in clinical specimens. BCG vaccine is used as a preventive measure against tuberculosis. There are effective antituberculotic drugs that can successfully treat tuberculosis. Health education and care of TB patients is being carried out in order to reduce the obstacles for TB treatment, increase co-operation in relation to TB treatment, reduce the risk of transmission of TB infection.

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