Anyone can get TB infection, but the

chances of becoming ill with tuberculosis are greater if you are:
In very close contact with infectious people; if you're a child or elderly; diabetic; on steroids; on other drugs affecting the body's defence system; HIV positive; in overcrowded poor housing; dependent on drugs or alcohol; or in chronic poor health.
Diagnosis
A skin test (called a "Heaf" or PPD test) may identify if you are immune to TB infection (ie already exposed to it or still protected by immunisation). Pulmonary TB is diagnosed by chest X-ray and sputum (phlegm) analysis.
Treatment
TB can be cured. A combination of drugs is taken for between nine and 12 months. About two weeks after starting treatment, the patient is no longer infectious to others. For people on HIV drugs as well, treatment options are more complex and may require a change of HIV therapy or stopping it altogether while TB is being treated.
People with active TB should be nursed in single rooms, not open hospital wards, with negative pressure so that air is gently sucked out of the room and bacteria cannot escape elsewhere.
Prevention
The BCG vaccination can be given to people who are HIV negative. This vaccine has variable effectiveness, only gives about 10 years protection and must not be given to people with HIV infection.
A new vaccine is being developed at Oxford University, the first for TB to enter

page 5 of 6

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

home

contents of issue 77
back issues
the gazette
recipes
small ads
contacting us
weblinks

clinical trials in over 80 years.