Understanding Tuberculosis and Hepatitis A, B, and C

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What does it take to understand Tuberculosis and Hepatitis A, B, and C?  First of all it’s important to understand the symptoms of these infectious diseases, the method of transmission of these diseases, and the basics about them. Prevention of these diseases is all about the prevention of transmission, whether through vaccination, personal protection, or sanitation.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease which is caused by the tubercle bacillus. The inflammation it causes attacks the respiratory system. The world's second-deadliest infectious disease, TB takes the lives of 1.5 to 2 million people annually. It has experienced a recent resurgence that has been resistant to standard TB drug therapies.

It can be contracted through the inhalation of bacteria from an infected individual’s cough or sneeze. However, a single instance of exposure is unlikely to result in an individual contracting the disease. In fact, exposure needs to be regular, day to day in general, in order to contract it, rather than through casual contact. Symptoms include coughing and fever. Treatment is primarily drug therapy, although following treatment, massage is often used to relieve spasms and pain which can result from the infection.

Hepatitis is the inflammation of an individual’s liver. It refers to a variety of viral infections that create this condition, most commonly Hepatitis A, B, and C. It should be noted that types B and C of viral hepatitis are considered the leading cause of liver cancer. Regardless of the type of hepatitis, many of those afflicted with the virus do not know they’re infected.

Hepatitis A incubates between 15 and 50 days, and causes a self limiting disease that while it replicates in the liver, it does not cause chronic infection or liver disease. Hepatitis A is generally transmitted by person to person contact or through the consumption of food or water that has been contaminated by fecal matter. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent this disease’s transmission.

Hepatitis B and C are both much more serious viral infections than Hepatitis A. They can both become chronic. If this occurs, liver damage and liver cancer risk may follow.

Hepatitis B takes between 6 weeks and 6 months to manifest. It’s found in blood and other body fluids, with only half of the infections symptomatic. It’s transmitted through infected blood or body fluids that also contain blood. It can be sexually transmitted. Screening of pregnant women, employing vaccinations, and protected sexual behavior, all work to prevent the disease.

Hepatitis C is the most common of chronic bloodborne infections in the U.S. today. As many as 70% of those infected show no symptoms, but the disease can be detected through blood testing from one to three weeks after infection. It’s transmitted through infected blood transfusions or drug injections, and much less frequently, through sexual exposure.

Knowing the differences between these diseases and the methods of transmission can save lives and prevent infection. And that’s what understanding these serious diseases is all about. At Medtrainer, we can help you identify all aspects of these illnesses, transmission, and prevention.