Factors To Consider When Embarking On TB Treatment

TB patients in Samburu, Maralal county, were at the verge of having a curring case of TB  after that county officials were unable to provide their medication for two weeks. Thankfully after local media stations exposed the matter the government started working on the issue to cover up the shameful situation.

I wonder why the government has to wait for things to get to a bad state before they address a matter. Anyway, The Samburu Deputy governor, Julius Leseto, apologized the patients for the neglect and promised that the drugs would be delivered at the Samburu County Referral Hospital on Friday.

He further assured them that the county will now be ordering the drugs in good time to avoid similar incidents in future.

By delaying TB patients medication the government has exposed the patients to a more dangerous state than they were in. TB medication weakens the TB virus by the day so missing medication does the opposite. Since there is nothing weakening the virus, the virus finds the strength to fight the medication making it resistant to medication.

This means that the dozage many need to be increased to normalize the situation in the patient’s body. If medication is stopped repeatedly not provided again action is repeated more often then we will have the drug-resistant TB which is claiming more lives than the main TB.

So if  you or a loved one has been diagnosed with TB, here are factors you all should put in mind;

• Take your TB medicines exactly as your doctor or nurse says, for as long as they say. Take them even if you’re feeling better.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain the side effects of TB medicine. Ask them what to do if you forget to take a pill.
• Do not take the pain medicine acetaminophen (Tylenol® or another brand).
• Do not drink alcohol.
  • TB medicine puts stress on your liver. So does alcohol and acetaminophen. If you take TB medicines and alcohol or acetaminophen, your liver could get sick.
• Tell your doctor about any other medicine you may be taking.
• If you get pregnant while you’re taking your TB medicine, tell your doctor. Your doctor may change your medicine.
• If you plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor.
• Take your medicine at the same time every day. Write a note or set an alarm to remind yourself to take it.
• Keep your medicine in a place where you see it often.