Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
infection, but may be delayed for years, even a decade, and activate after the onset of diabetes mellitus, during
the period of stress, after steroid treatment, or when the immune system is impaired, like in AIDS.
When is preventive medication needed?
Chemoprophylaxis (drug treatment before the disease sets in) is indicated among children (less than 4 years
old, whether Tuberculin positive or negative) who lives in a household where someone has active tubeculosis,
where the sputum is positive for M. tuberculosis (also called acid fast bacilli). This preventive drug treatment is
also used among AIDS patients, or those persons whose immune system is low.
How effective are today's drugs against PTB?
Modern day multiple drug regimens, either for the initial treatment, retreatment, or specialized treatment, are
very effective to control the disease, when adhered to strictly, together with other recommended measures.
Today, tuberculosis is no longer as "wild, virulent and deadly" as it was several decades ago, when the old
treatment strategy was not as effective as it is now. Tuberculosis used to spread all over the body, to the brain,
bones, kidneys, liver, spleen, etc. like a wild cancer, killing millions and millions of people around the world.
What are the drugs commonly used for the treatment of PTB?
The commonest are: Isoniazid, Rifampin, Streptomycin,Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, and Capreomycin. These
medications have potential side effects that can be serious, and, therefore, should be taken only under the
advise and supervision of a physician.
As always, prevention is the key to maintaining good health. Your physician and the Department of Health are
good sources of information on this disease, its prevention, detection and treatment. There are also public
health service centers in various cities in the country that function to help the community fight this dreaded
malady.