Understanding Tuberculosis and the

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Understanding Tuberculosis and the

Treatments Involved

Tuberculosis (TB) is a transmittable disease. It is caused by a bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was first identified in 1882 by a German physician named Robert Koch. Koch eventually received a Nobel prize for the discovery. Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs. However, the infection can spread to other organs.

TB generally spreads from person to person through the air. When a person is sick with TB and coughs, laughs, sings, sneezes, or even talk he can infect other people. Also, direct hand or mouth contact with infected saliva can spread the bacteria. That is why people suffering from TB are often isolated for the duration of their treatment to avoid contamination. TB most easily spreads in closed spaces over a long period. The TB bacteria become potent and easily make a person sick if that person exercises poor diet and an unhealthy stressed lifestyle.

Years ago, pulmonary tuberculosis patients often would pass away without effective treatment. Today, TB is one of the easier diseases to cure with antibiotics. However, one needs to understand that there is also another group of organisms known as atypical tuberculosis.

These are other types of bacteria under the Mycobacterium family. Oftentimes, these organisms do not cause disease. They would simply live together with other bacteria in the body without really causing damage. But other times, when these bacteria do cause an infection, it is similar to typical tuberculosis but very difficult to cure.

Drug therapy for these organisms must be conducted for longer periods, about one to two years and would require multiple medications. This atypical tuberculosis may be contracted through drinking unpasteurized milk.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is easily spread among people with a weakened immune system since the body is no longer capable of containing the bacteria, keeping it dormant. One preventive treatment for TB is chemoprophylaxis. It is a drug treatment performed before the disease sets in and is commonly used in children who lives with someone who has active tuberculosis.

Multiple drug medications along with proper diagnosis and health care advices are very effective in controlling the disease when followed conscientiously. The most common conventional drugs used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis include Rifampin, Isoniazid, Pyrzinamide, Streptomycin, Capreomyzin, and Ethambutol. Of course, these medications should be taken upon professional medical advice. These drugs are potentially dangerous.

Aside from conventional medications, there are also natural remedies used in treating pulmonary tuberculosis. One such remedy is the proteolytic enzyme known as serrapeptase, which is derived from the micro organism Serratia E15 and is naturally present in the intestines of silkworms. This particular enzyme is able to breakdown scar tissues, cysts, blood clots, inflammation, mucus, and arterial plaque of all sorts.

Other natural remedies used in the treatment of TB include digestive enzyme supplements, propolis, black seed oil, olive leaf extract, and colloidal silver.