Transcript tuberculosis - Teachnet UK-home

TUBERCULOSIS
What causes TB?
• Tuberculosis is also known as TB
• A bacterium causes TB
• Many years ago the disease used to be
called the consumption.
• The TB bacteria can stay hidden (not
active) in the body for many years without
the person getting the disease.
How is TB spread?
• TB is spread through the air.
• If a person with the disease coughs then
the bacteria are spread into the air.
• TB is quite hard to catch. You would have
to be in contact with an infected person for
some time.
• You can’t catch TB from sitting next to
someone on a bus.
What are the symptoms of TB?
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Coughing
Sneezing
Weight loss
No appetite
Being tired all the time
Trouble with breathing
High temperature and sweating.
AIDS and TB
• Aids is caused by a virus which affects the
bodies defences (immune system)
• For an AIDS patient TB can be very
serious
• The TB bacteria and the AIDS virus work
so that the patient has no defences
against the TB bacterium.
How is TB treated?
• A person with TB will be given lots of
different drugs.
• The treatment usually lasts about six
months
• The patient must take all the drugs or the
bacteria may become resistant.
• (resistant means the bacteria change so
that the drugs do not work)
Now try these exercises
Exercise 1 – Tuberculosis
Exercise 2 – TB crossword