World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is held every year on March 24 as a way for people around the world to share information and ideas about how to fight TB. In response to the World Health Organization’s call to eradicate TB, our organisation joined the global community in commemorating World TB Day on March 24, 2023, under the theme #YesWeCanEndTB.

Setshaba Commemorates World TB Day

 

The event provided updates on our efforts to eradicate tuberculosis. Among those who spoke at the event were Miss. Jane Maluleke of the DoH Research District Committee and Dr. Ayman Osman, SRC’s Deputy COO. Miss Maluleke provided an update on TB patient intake statistics as well as TB management, mobilisation, and support at the department. Dr. Ayman Osman provided an update on SRC’s TB studies and the investigation of TB contacts.

The informative updates were followed by breakout sessions led by our CET which resulted in robust discussions about the challenges affecting collaborative efforts among stakeholders to end TB. Following the discussions, strategies for addressing the challenges raised were presented.

Our expertise in tuberculosis research and relationships with community stakeholders have resulted in a positive and significant change in clinic facilities in our catchment areas. In response to the call to end tuberculosis, we held a successful symposium with a 100% turnout at the Kievits Kroon Hotel in Pretoria.
The event’s objective was to re-educate our stakeholders on TB research, prevention, research developments, and community empowerment, while also strengthening and emphasising the importance of cross-sector collaborations and support, and to hear from our key stakeholders on their progress to end TB.

Follow link: https://setshabaresearchcentre.org.za/gallery/

 

What Are the Symptoms of TB?

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

How is TB Spread?

TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.

What is the Difference Between Latent TB Infection and TB Disease?

People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.

People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.

What Should I Do If I Have Spent Time with Someone with Latent TB Infection?

A person with latent TB infection cannot spread germs to other people. You do not need to be tested if you have spent time with someone with latent TB infection. However, if you have spent time with someone with TB disease or someone with symptoms of TB, you should be tested.

What Should I Do if I Have Been Exposed to Someone with TB Disease?

People with TB disease are most likely to spread the germs to people they spend time with every day, such as family members or coworkers. If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should go to your doctor or your local health department for tests.

How Do You Get Tested for TB?

There are two tests that can be used to help detect TB infection: a skin test or TB blood test. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm. The TB blood tests measure how the patient’s immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB.

What Does a Positive Test for TB Infection Mean?

A positive test for TB infection only tells that a person has been infected with TB germs. It does not tell whether or not the person has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.

Click on the link to read more: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm#:~:text=Tuberculosis%20(TB)%20is%20a%20disease,they%20do%20not%20get%20treatment.

Source: CDC.