Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a germ called the tubercle bacillus. The germ enters the body through the air you breathe and causes an infection, usually in the lungs but sometimes in other parts of the body such as the kidneys, bones, lymph nodes or brain.
TB destroys and kills the tissue in our bodies. Tuberculosis shows itself as a lesion on the lungs or other tissue (a lesion is basically a sore on tissue). The lesion is called the tubercle. It usually consists of a center of dead cells and tissues, cheeselike in appearance. It is at that center we find the tubercle bacilli. This center is surrounded by scavenger cells and on the edges are connective tissue cells. The tubercle forms as a result of the body's defensive reaction to the bacilli that lodge in bodily tissues. Though each tubercle is microscopic in size, it is this combination of millions of tubercles that kills tissue. Especially significant is when lung tissue is destroyed, inhibiting the lung's ability to take in oxygen.
Most of the time people get TB from breathing in airborne droplets when someone who has active TB disease coughs, sneezes or speaks. Brief exposure generally doesn't lead to an infection. Tuberculosis "infection" means that you have TB germs in your body, but they are not doing any harm to you or others. This is known as inactive tuberculosis. Inactive tuberculosis has essentially no symptoms. To determine if someone has inactive TB, a simple test can be performed. Often know as a "PPD" test, a very small amount of a chemical called purified protein derivative (PPD) is injected just under the surface of the skin on the inside of the forearm. Having a slight reaction to the PPD may indicate that an individual has been exposed to the TB bacteria and may be inactive. To further determine this, people who react to the PPD are sent to the doctor for a simple evaluation.
It is important to know that an extremely small percentage of people who have a reaction to the PPD go on to develop active TB. Tuberculosis "disease" means that the germs are spreading quickly and causing damage to the lungs or other parts of the body. This is active tuberculosis and may be quite contagious.
Home Medical Equipment for Tuberculosis Patients
Depending on the severity of the disease, respiratory equipment used in the treatment of tuberculosis may range from a nebulizer to oxygen home therapy products. In most cases, however, if detected in the early stages, tuberculosis can be rendered inactive with medication and no equipment is necessary.
In its active state, TB could inhibit the absorption of oxygen and result in fatigue, necessitating the use of a scooter, for example. In instances where tuberculosis affects parts of the body other than the lungs, such as the bones, the resulting impairment of function might necessitate the use of home medical equipment. An individual in this situation could need bath safety products, aids to assist with activities of daily living and a mobility device such as a wheelchair or scooter.
