Health Insurance for TB: What You Should Know on Symptoms of Tuberculosis
Oct 30, 2019 | 2 months ago | Read Time: 3minutes | By iKnowledge Team
Contrary
to popular perception, anyone can be affected by tuberculosis (TB). Since it is
airborne, if you are near a person with TB, you could contract the disease too.
It can spread when a person coughs, speaks or even sings. To create awareness
on TB, the World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Tuberculosis Day on
March 24 every year. Increasing public awareness about the harmful outcomes of
tuberculosis (TB) can boost attempts to cease the worldwide TB epidemic. Around
nine million people are affected with TB every year, making it the
second-biggest killer globally, according to WHO.
Could
you or your loved one be suffering from TB? It is better to recognise the
symptoms early to curb the disease sooner than later. Here are some of the
symptoms of TB, that you should be aware of this World Tuberculosis Day:
1. A persistent cough: Although a cough and cold are a common ailment, the persistent cough could be a sign of something more serious. If symptoms include coughing up blood, it could point to TB. A cough that lasts more than three weeks with no sign of improvement needs immediate attention from a physician.
2. Chest pain:
Normally, chest pain is characterised by a heart or respiratory problem. However, if you feel pain in your chest or have trouble while breathing or coughing, it could be a sign of tuberculosis (TB).
3. Weight loss:
Normally, one loses weight when your changes are made to the diet, or if a person has been ill for a while. However, if there is severe unexplained weight loss along with a loss of appetite, one could be affected by TB. If you notice such symptoms, you must get yourself checked by a physician.
4. Fatigue:
After a hard day’s work or at the end of a strenuous workout, it is normal to feel tired. However, if you feel tired all the time for no apparent reason, it could be a cause for concern. Unexplained fatigue accompanied by shortness of breath could be a sign of TB.
5. Fever:
Fever is a common ailment that affects most of us. Usually, some amount of care along with over-the-counter pills is enough to cure it. When you experience fever, chills and night sweats consistently, it could be a sign of TB.
Tuberculosis can affect
other parts of your body:
a. Bone infection causing spinal and joint
deterioration
b. Meningitis when TB affects the brain
c. Impair kidney functions and lead to blood
in the urine (if the liver is infected)
d. Cardiac tamponade if TB affects the heart.
This leads to an impairment of the heart’s ability to pump blood.
Treatment
of TB starts only after you are diagnosed with the disease. To detect TB, you
may have to undergo chest X-ray, tuberculin skin tests, blood or sputum
tests.
How to prevent TB?
You
can prevent TB by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can avail a BCG vaccine
that can protect you against the disease. Make sure your surroundings are
clean; your home has natural light, and good hygiene to prevent the TB bacteria
from spreading.
One
is more susceptible to TB if he/she is from a low socioeconomic status, living in
cramped living conditions or addicted to alcohol, suffering from immunodeficiency
disorders or even having a weak immune system. The chances of health care
professionals around TB patients, contracting the disease are also high.
If
you or a loved one experiences any of the listed symptoms, make sure you are
tested immediately. To stay protected against TB, maintain a healthy lifestyle
and keep your surroundings clean and tidy. In some cases, despite timely
detection or the number of precautions you take, TB can be hard to beat. This
could lead to huge medical bills and financial drain.
Conclusion
To
prevent any financial setbacks due to TB, you can consider buying health insurance. To know about Aegon Life’s life insurance products like term insurance and other products, visit our home page.