PHE 4095 Assignment Effective Management of Tuberculosis
PHE 4095 Assignment Effective Management of Tuberculosis
Managing Tuberculosis
You must finish your medicine and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If you stop taking the drugs too soon you can become sick again and potentially spread the disease to others. Additionally, by taking the drugs incorrectly, TB germs that are still alive may become drug-resistant, making it harder for you to get better next time.
While you are in treatment for active TB disease, you will need regular checkups to make sure your treatment is working. Everyone is different, but there are side effects associated with taking the medications, including:
- Upset stomach, nausea and vomiting or loss of appetite
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Itchy skin, rashes or bruising
- Changes in your eyesight or blurred visions
- Yellowish skin or eyes
- Dark-colored urine
- Weakness, fatigue or fever that for three or more days
It is important to tell your doctor or TB nurse immediately if you begin having any unusual symptoms while taking medicine for either preventive therapy or for active TB disease. TB drugs can be toxic to your liver, and your side effects may be a warning sign of liver damage. If you are having trouble with tingling and numbness, your doctor may prescribe a vitamin B6 supplement while you are in treatment. It may also be possible to change TB medications if your side effects are serious.
Tips for Taking TB Medicine
If you are taking TB medicine on your own, it’s important to get into a routine. Here are some ways to help you remember to take your TB medicine:
- Take your medicine at the same time every day.
- Each day when you take your medicine mark it off on a calendar.
- Get a weekly pill dispenser that has a section for each day of the week. Put your pills in it.
- Ask someone close to you to check in daily to make sure you have taken your medicine.
- Ask your healthcare provider what you should do if you forget to take your pills.
Sometimes it is helpful to have support in sticking to the long treatment timeline. You may be offered assistance through a program called Directly Observed Therapy (DOT). This means a healthcare worker will come to you to administer your medication and eliminate the concern of forgetting to take the treatment.
Preventing the Spread of TB
If you have active TB disease, it will take a few weeks of treatment before you can’t spread TB bacteria to others. Until your healthcare provider tells you to go back to your daily routine, here are ways to protect yourself and others near you:
- Take your medicine exactly as the healthcare provider directed.
- When you cough, sneeze or laugh, cover your mouth with a tissue. Put the tissue in a closed bag and throw it away.
- Do not go to work or school until your healthcare provider says it’s okay.
- Avoid close contact with anyone. Sleep in a bedroom alone.
- Air out your room often so the TB germs don’t stay in the room and infect someone else.