Tuberculosis or TB is a disease that is spread by a germ. It is a communicable disease that is passed through the air when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes. TB is a serious disease that is often life-threatening, although there are medications that are used to treat the disease. Tuberculosis is a prevalent disease in Nigeria. A report estimated that 407,000 people in Nigeria have TB each year. While, 302,996 cases of tuberculosis in Nigeria was undetected, according to a 2017 news finding. Thus, it is important to know how to protect yourself from a TB patient.
The most common type of tuberculosis affects the lungs, but some also affect other parts of the body, including the joints, bones, kidneys, and so on. TB often comes with a very strong cough that causes great discomfort to a person’s wellbeing. Most people infected with tuberculosis don’t show symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they usually include a cough (sometimes with blood), weight loss, night sweats and fever.
Despite the fact that tuberculosis can be cured, prevention is still the best route to take. But due to the manner in which the disease can be spread, prevention from tuberculosis is not easy. Preventing yourself from a TB patient requires a lot of effort, especially if you would come into close contact with them.
In this article, we would be looking at some ways to protect yourself from a tuberculosis patient.
Use A Facemask Around The Patient
The first thing to do is to make sure you are masked up around a TB patient. The best kind of mask to use is the N-95 mask. This would prevent droplets like saliva and mucor from getting into your nose or mouth. You may also make sure that the patient is wearing a mask, just to be extra careful.
Avoid Sharing Spoons and cups with the patient
Another thing you should do is to avoid sharing utensils such as spoons and cups with the patient. If they live in your house, you can make sure they use a special cup or spoon just for them alone. This is to make sure they do not pass the disease on to someone else.
Avoid Sharing The Same Bedroom With The Patient
While you can be around the person, although at a safe distance, during the day, it is advisable that you do not share a bedroom with someone that has tuberculosis. Tuberculosis cough usually gets worse at night and some droplets of saliva may find their way into your nose or mouth while you sleep. Isolating the patient, especially at night is a very good way to prevent yourself from getting the disease.
Make Sure The Person Receives Appropriate Medical Care
Also, you should make sure that the TB patient is receiving good medical care for their disease. This could include regular checkups at home or frequent visits to the hospital. If the person was given medications, you should make sure that they take them religiously. This would help cure the disease and reduce the risk it poses to you.
Get Tested Regularly
One other thing to keep in mind is to get tested regularly. This is to check if you have contracted the disease from the patient. Early detection, through testing, would allow you to begin treatment early. Do not wait until you start showing symptoms, such as cough before you have a test. At least, get tested every two to three months.
