Cases of ‘white plague’ rising in US as doctors warn of ‘rebound effect’
In more severe cases, patients may cough up blood, noted Kawamura, who serves on the board of directors of Vital Strategies, a global public health organization.
“Often, there are minimal symptoms for a long time, and people mistake their occasional cough with allergies, smoking or a cold they can’t shake off,” she added.
Risk factors, treatment and prevention
“The good news is that TB is both preventable and treatable,” Vivekanandan said.
“People who are at higher risk – including those born in or traveling frequently to high TB-burden countries, individuals living in crowded conditions, or those who are immunocompromised – should speak with their doctor about TB testing.”
“People who are at higher risk – including those born in or traveling frequently to high TB-burden countries, individuals living in crowded conditions, or those who are immunocompromised – should speak with their doctor about TB testing,” one doctor noted. (iStock)
Other high-risk groups include people who have diabetes, are malnourished, use tobacco and/or drink excess amounts of alcohol. Babies and children are also more vulnerable to the disease.
Doctors typically use a skin or blood test to detect TB infection, followed by imaging or sputum (mucus) testing to confirm active disease, per the CDC.
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The disease is treated with antibiotics that are taken every day for four to six months, the CDC states. Some of the most common include isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol.
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Failure to take the complete course of medications can cause the bacteria to become drug-resistant, which means it does not respond to standard antibiotics. Drug-resistant TB is more difficult and costly to treat and requires longer, more complex medication regimens, according to experts.
If TB goes untreated, it is fatal in about half of its victims.
“Latent TB, which causes no symptoms and is not contagious, can be treated and cured before it ever progresses to active TB, which is infectious,” the doctor pointed out. (iStock)
“Latent TB, which causes no symptoms and is not contagious, can be treated and cured before it ever progresses to active TB, which is infectious,” Vivekanandan said.
“Identifying and treating latent infection is one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting both individual patients and the broader community.”
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening only for populations at increased risk rather than for the general population.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/cases-white-plague-rising-us-doctors-warn-rebound-effect