Tuberculosis: What Is It and

How Do We Keep Healthy?

A Presentation for Pacific Island

Schools and Communities
 Presentation Overview
1. What is tuberculosis (TB)?

2. How can I prevent TB?

3. How do I know if I have TB?

4. What is the treatment for TB?

 What is Tuberculosis?
• Tuberculosis (often called TB) is a
disease spread from person to person
through the air.

• Most often, TB infects the lungs.

• When someone sick with TB coughs,

spits, talks, or sneezes, their germs are
sent into the air.
 What is TB?
• Another person can breathe in these
germs—especially in small, closed-in
spaces—and become infected with TB.
 What is TB?
• Many people are infected with TB—
worldwide about 1 in every 3 people.

• Not all of these people become sick

from TB right away; and some never do.

• The body of a healthy person will fight

the germs and sometimes can keep the
TB under control. These people often
do not know they have a TB infection.
 What is TB?
• But, if a person becomes sick or
their body’s defenses are weak, the
TB germs will multiply.

• Then, TB infection turns into TB

disease, which is very serious.
 What is TB?
• People with TB disease can
become very sick—so weak they
cannot work, play, or be active.

• TB disease can also kill people. TB

kills about 2 million people every
year.
 How Can I Prevent TB?
• It is hard to keep from getting TB
because it spreads easily.

• However, you are more likely to get

TB if you spend a lot of time close to a
person with TB disease.
 How Can I Prevent TB?
• If you need to be close to a person
(like a family member) who has TB,
ask a nurse or doctor how to keep
safe.

• Children, elders, and people who are

sick should wait to visit a TB patient
until after the nurse or doctor says it’s
OK.
 How Can I Prevent TB?
The best ways to prevent TB are:
• Help anyone who has been
exposed to TB or has signs of TB to
get tested for TB; and

• Help anyone with TB disease to

start and finish their treatment.
 How Can I Prevent TB?
• The sooner a person discovers
they have TB, through a test, the
easier it is keep them healthy or
help them get better.
• It is very, very important that a TB
patient follows their treatment. If
they do not finish their treatment,
the TB will get stronger and harder
(and much more expensive) to
fight.
 How do I know if I have TB?
• The warning signs for people who may
have TB are:
1. A serious cough that lasts for 3
weeks or more
2. Chest pain
3. Coughing up blood

• See a doctor if you have these signs.

How do I know if I have TB?
• If you have TB outside of your lungs (it’s
uncommon), the warning signs depend on
where the infection is. For example, TB in
your spine will make your back hurt.
• General signs include: fever, chills, night
sweats, losing appetite (hunger), losing
weight, and becoming very tired easily.
• See a doctor if you have these signs.
 What is the Treatment
for TB?
• The treatment for TB in most places is
called DOTS.
• DOTS is very effective.
• DOTS is very cheap.
• DOTS treatment usually only lasts 6-8
months.
What is the Treatment for TB?
• In DOTS, a health worker or a
community volunteer will meet the TB
patient every time they need to take
their medicine.
• The health worker or volunteer makes
sure the TB patient takes all the
medicine on time.
• This support for the TB patient makes
DOTS work well and helps people get
healthy fast.
 In Conclusion
• TB is a serious disease that spreads
easily.
• If someone has the warning signs of
TB they should get tested.
• If someone has TB they should start
and finish their treatment.
• Ask your health worker for more
information.
 Notes
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