Tuberculosis in children: What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis in children

What is Tuberculosis?

It is a type of infectious disease and is caused by the type of bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, also called TB, is found to infect not only lungs and can affect the organs.

Contagious nature of Tuberculosis:

If someone has untreated TB and he or she sneezes, and it is known to send droplets from the bacteria into the air, and to inhale these droplets can cause the unusual way a person perceiving for TB. But everyone who is known for inhaling the infected droplets does not get sick. This is the reason why paediatric pulmonologist in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai categorize TB as the following:

Latent TB infection: It happens when the M. tuberculosis bacteria in their bodies, but don’t feel symptoms or sick. The disease is not contagious.

TB disease: It happens when people with M.tuberculosis bacteria became sick and are known to have symptoms. The symptoms are contagious and are known to occur if latent TB infection remains untreated.

To know the stage of your child, you can contact a specialist in one of the Best hospitals for children in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

Symptoms and Signs of Tuberculosis?

At times the TB patient can show the below-listed symptoms:

1. Chills or fever.
2. Chest pain.
3. Night sweat.
4. Appetite loss.
5. Weight loss.
6. Coughing.
7. Tiredness.

How is TB spread?

TB is spread through the air medium from one person to another. The germs are launched in the air when the patients are suffering from TB sneezes or coughs. The TB in the throat and lungs can spread to other parts of the body, and if spread to the spine of the kidney is not infectious at all. If your child has TB disease, he is most likely to spread to other people where he spends most of his day, including friends and family.

How your child can get infected with TB?

When an infected person from TB sneezes or coughs near to your child, he is likely to breathe in the contaminated air of the TB germs. It happens, and the bacteria tend to settle in his lungs and start growing. They tend to move to other parts of the body through the blood passage, and the chances of reaching out to the brain, spine, and kidney are quite high.

What is BCG?

The BCG is one of the vaccines for TB and is given to children and infants in many countries. The BCG vaccines do not work great for protecting people from TB. Speaking to the Best paediatric pulmonologist in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai can help you in saving your child without causing any loss to his health. Reaching out to them at the earliest will be the best for you.

How is the TB treated in a child?

Treatment for TB can include a short stay in the Best hospitals for children in Mumbai If your child is suffering from TB, he can be treated for a 6 to 12 months course of medicine. For active TB, he can be on 3 to 4 medications for about six months. Do make sure that the medication prescribed by best paediatric pulmonologist in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai is working for them.

Children usually start getting better within a few weeks of starting the treatment. After treating them for two weeks, the child's disease is not typically contagious. But the time limit to be defined for the course should be taken seriously and completed on time. To have a better insight, you can speak to the Best paediatric pulmonologist in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai and know about the benefits, risks, and other side effects of the medicine.

The only you can prevent TB for your child is to lower the risk of the disease. Always prefer for best treatment for paediatric pulmonology in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai for your family and friends.