What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
TB is a serious, slowly developing, bacterial infection that’s caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
TB most commonly affects the lungs but can affect almost any part of the body. it can be spread when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks and another person breathes in the bacteria. however, prolonged contact is usually needed to become infected.
Some people develop a minor infection which then settles as their immune system fights it, and evidence is only found later incidentally as a scar on a chest X ray. Whilst for others active TB flares up many years after this initial infection. if the initial infection isn’t fought off, it can progress to serious ongoing infection a few weeks after the first contact.
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Tuberculosis symptoms
Initially, there may be no symptoms. when symptoms develop they will vary depending which part of the body is affected but commonly include:
A persistent cough, usually for more than three weeks – it may be dry to start with and progress to blood-streaked sputum
Night sweats for weeks or months
Weight loss
Fatigue
High temperature
Shortness of breath
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Tuberculosis – causes and risk factors
It’s estimated that a third of the world’s population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB. each year about 9 million people develop the disease and up to nearly 2 million people worldwide are killed by it.
The latest figures from the Health Protection Agency for 2007, show there were a total of 8,417 cases in the United Kingdom, anyone can get TB. People at greater risk of developing it include:
Children and older people
Smokers
Those living in overcrowded conditions
Those who have a poor diet
People with HIV
The homeless
Those who have a weakened immune system because of other medical conditions, such as diabetes, or because of other medical therapy, such as immuno-suppressant medication
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Tuberculosis – treatment and recovery
TB is difficult to treat – normal antibiotics do not kill TB bacteria. Combinations of several special antibiotics treat the infection in the majority of cases. These must be taken for long periods, usually at least six months, to avoid becoming ill with TB again and developing a drug-resistant form of the disease.
Even with treatment, some people develop long-term complications from infection.
Travellers to countries where TB is prevalent are at greater risk. A vaccine is available, which is offered to those at high risk of contracting the disease. Check with your doctor whether your travel plans put you at risk of TB and discuss possible vaccination

Just wondering what the symptoms of cancer are? how can a person recongnize if he/she might have cancer? is there any way you can tell in general?

What instructions/advices/recommendations could you give?

Additional info would be helpful!

Thanks!

Some cancers don't show symptoms until the cancer is in an advanced stage, like loosing weight for no reason, fatigue, just a few to name.
If you have a lump in your breast get it checked, if you have a mole that has changed get it checked, if you are coughing for a long time, get it checked, if you have bad headaches get it checked.
Get yearly physicals and your Doctor will send you for different tests according to your age. Like if you smoke you should get a chest x-ray every year. When you are 50 get a colonoscopy and a prostate check. When you are 40 get yearly mammograms.
Hope this helps.

Only a doctor can diagnose cancer…there are different symptoms for different types of cancers.

There are so many kinds of cancer. some linger for a long time before anyone would know. some symptoms are very general, like loss of appetite and pain. if you are worried, go see a doctor. i bet you get a clean bill of health.

there is no way to tell since there are so many different types of cancer, there is a cancer for pretty much everything in your body so they all have different symptoms. talk to a doctor or check a medical site for specific cancers.

Dear vladimir_hadzhiysk you can find the symptons of the most frequently cancer forms here: cancerhelp.awardspace.com/

Hope it helps Vladimir, My best regards.

If it is colon cancer and is in middle or late stages, you will tremendously lose weight and also will have stool problems.

Ask Dr. Gott: Chronic cough usually benign

Jan 8, 2011 02:35AM

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Q: I am a 19-year-old female and have had a nonproductive cough for 16 months without any other symptoms other than some slight drainage down the back of my throat. I have kept food and cough diaries and cannot find anything that triggers it. I cough when I sit, stand, laugh, after strenuous exercise and around smoke.

I have been diagnosed with bronchitis, hiatal hernia, asthma and heartburn. none of the medication given for these diagnoses has worked. I’ve been on Symbicort, Spiriva, codeine, Prilosec, Zantac. I had a chest X-ray done in July 2009 without abnormalities.

At my last visit to the pulmonologist, I was told that I have irritated bronchitis and that I would have it for the rest of my life unless it miraculously went away.

Within the past two weeks, I have noticed that I have all of a sudden been getting heartburn. No acid comes up in my throat, and it usually never lasts for more than a few seconds, but it is a new symptom. Doctors have asked me in the past if I have had heartburn, but I never have up until now. Please help me.

a: Chronic cough can have many causes; most are benign. up to 90 percent of all cases are caused by postnasal drip, acid reflux or asthma.

I suggest that you take a look at your environment to determine if there is something that may be causing this. did you get a new pet or move? did you start wearing a new perfume or using a new scented soap or shampoo?

Talk to your physician about a trial course of an allergy medication. Over-the-counter options include Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl and various store brands. Prescription options include Nasonex, Flonase, Clarinex and more.

I am hesitant to believe that you have acid reflux or asthma because treatment failed to improve your cough; however, they may still be the culprits. Acid reflux can be helped through changes in diet as well as physical activity. Limit your intake of fatty, greasy, high-acid and spicy foods. Asthma may require daily preventive therapy such as a steroid inhaler in addition to a rescue inhaler for emergencies. your new symptom of heartburn may be related to acid reflux, but it may also simply be the result of your constant coughing.

I urge you to undergo another chest X-ray. your pulmonologist can then compare the two films to determine whether there are changes that might indicate a more insidious cause.

If you are uncomfortable with your current physicians and their assistants, start fresh with another lung specialist or primary-care physician. Express your concerns about the cough, and be sure to bring all your medical records with you. The new physician can offer a new perspective and insight into your situation and may find something that the others missed.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Pulmonary Disease.” other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at AskDrGottMD.com.