MY CHILDHOOD ESSAY WHICH I WRITE FOR COMPETITION (memories of 2004-2005)

ESSAY ON “MEASURES TAKEN TO STOP TUBERCULOSIS (T.B.) "

Today, in the world of 21^st century where everything is automatically run by the help of machines which changes the world in a bit of second to fascinate the humans. As we all aware from the fact that science has been so advanced and authentic techniques have been used to help the humanity. But beside all these advantages there are many diseases which can cure but not completely eliminated from the society due to lack of awareness .among those diseases like AIDS/HIV ,tuberculosis is the second most life threatening disease which act as a silent killer. It is a contagious disease .it is far reaching economical, social, medical and human implication has emerged as a gravest threat to humanity. Before know owing how tuberculosis can be managed, the people must aware about what tuberculosis is?

Tuberculosis is caused by bacterium namely Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis. An air-borne disease spread either from cough or from unpasteurized milk and it even spread through direct contact with T.B. patient. Abetted by a host it is widely spread through ignorance and steepy poverty, lack of health ,re-habilitation facilities ,deep rooted social stigma that they may also become cancerous.

Tuberculosis the most deadly disease it not only damages the lungs but also affects any other body part. It may be T.B. of bone (spine or any other bone) which initially causes local pain of bone which finally results in collapse of bone .in spine it causes suppression of spinal cord which ultimately causes paralysis .it may also affect heart called pericardial effusion, tuberculosis peritonitis (inflammation of abdomen), urinary tract tuberculosis (kidney or bladder) and pelvic inflammation disease which causes infertility.

Tuberculosis may be primary in which patient has a very healthy immune system and the number of diseases causing germs getting into lungs is in very minute quantity then it may be possible that spread of disease stops and if we observe these patients, they may contain a scar in lung called GHON FOCUS. The primary tuberculosis is not very dangerous having no symptoms but patient have a scar in lung throughout their life. One type of primary tuberculosis is MILITARY T.B. which is very dangerous .in this condition primary infection get straight into blood stream and affect the whole body and if re-activation of infection occur it is known as post primary or secondary tuberculosis with more severity and having symptoms. Tuberculosis can also infect healthy people whose immune system is weak. It may infect elderly people, diabetics, alcoholic, people on immunosuppressive drugs like steroids and people with AIDS/HIV.the nervous system is frequently affected in person already suffering from meningitis or encephalitis. So we can say that IT IS EASIER FOR A PERSON TO CONTACT T.B. AND IT IS HARD FOR BODY TO FIGHT WITH IT. If this trend of combination of diseases with tuberculosis continues by 2020then in every 9^th second one person will die of tuberculosis. The former UN president Nelson Mandela said

“UNLESS WE STEM T.B. INFECTION THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS IS ALL INVAIN.”

It may be shocking to know that over 1/3^rd of world population has been exposed to the bacterium that causes T.B.some symptoms of T.B. which helps in initial diagnosis of the disease may be chest pain, prolonged cough for more than three weeks, coughing up with blood, fever, chills night sweat, appetite loss, weight loss, pallor and fatigue from these symptoms it may also be known as consumption disease because it seems to consume people from within.

For the diagnosis of tuberculosis certain tests must be performed for the confirmation of disease like Monteux test ,chest X-ray ,lumber puncture ,CSF fluid examination ,PCR based testing ,bronchoscopy , biopsy of infected tissue from lungs ,sputum containing blood.

Treatment of T.B. requires

·         QUADRUPPLE THERAPY containing four drugs ISONIAZIDE, RIFAMPICIN, PYRAZINAMIDE and ETHAMBUTOL. Anciently STREPTOMYCIN used to treat T.B. the treatment continues for 9 month – 1 year.

·         Another treatment named as DOTS (Direct Observe Therapy Short Course) treatment complete in 6 months under the supervision of health care professionals.

·         Now days after birth infants are vaccinated by BCG vaccine (Bacilli Chalmette Guerin).

Beside these empirical and definite treatments we can treat it with diet so as to avoid the side effects of antibiotics and certain precautionary measures are taken to avoid the rapid spread of this fatal disease.

1.       For curing the tuberculosis the best remedy every one can avail is the intake of milk which contains iron, calcium, vitamins and other nutritional requirements because the infection weakens the immunity and bones so milk nourishes the body. The person may take milk and day by day increasing its quantity maximum of 6 liters.

2.       Beside this a person may take pineapple juice, which dissolve mucus and give fast results of recovery.

3.       Orange juice with 1 tablespoon of honey with one pinch of salt nourishes lungs and regains vitality.

4.       Banana, black raisin and amla also help in recovery.

5.       As tuberculosis results in loss of appetite and weight so person may eat boiled bottle gourd regularly as it is the most valuable drug to treat T.B. it is beneficial and even increases appetite and immunity to fight against T.B.

The other very ancient remedy which our HOLY PROPHET (SALALAHO ALAIHAI WAALAIHAI WASALM ) suggest to keep goat forming small farm where they live which helps in rapid recovery of T.B. patient and BCG VACCINE from cattle proof it by preventing T.B.  (60-80%).

“DIET CURSE MORE THAN THE LANCET”

After awaring from what T.B. is then how we can control the rapid spread of tuberculosis.

a)      People should be cautious while meeting with these patients as it is air-borne disease.

b)      It may spread through travelling in under prevail age country so before and after travelling person should be vaccinated or may undergo tuberculosis diagnostic test.

c)       Due to lack of facilities and malnutrition it spread very rapidly so government take incentives to cope up.

d)      People must be kept in special intensive care centers like sanatorium under the supervision of expert professionals.

e)      HIV/AIDS patients are more prone to tuberculosis so they take immediate advice from doctors and take special care.

f)       If after all precautions person may suffer from tuberculosis then immediate therapy should be started with proper doctor advice.

g)      After completion of therapy person must undergo diagnostic test for surety.

“DEADMEN ARE OF NO FAMILY AND ARE AKIN TO NONE.”