Tuberculosis and Medication

 Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

According to the information provided by the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, about 73000 people were infected with tuberculosis last year and about 9800 patients died of this disease.

Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through droplets released into the air. This could happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs, or sings.

Tuberculosis could be treated but the medication should be taken as the physician’s prescription but some patients in Afghanistan cut the medication without consulting the physician and they might face more health problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients and physicians about the medication for this disease.

Ewaz Khan, a resident of Bamiyan province says, “I was sick and when I went to the doctor, he diagnosed my diseases tuberculosis and typhoid. The doctor prescribed me medicines for 6 months I took it for two months and then I cut it. Now I suffer from asthma bronchitis and have lost appetite. The doctor told me that my lungs are destroyed.”

Abdul Rahim says, another resident of Bamiyan province, , “My father is suffering from tuberculosis. He had not taken his medicines on time. Now when he eats food, he vomits; lost his 10 kilograms weight.”

Doctor Faridullah Omari, infectious disease specialist at Kabul Infectious Diseases Hospital says, “If the tuberculosis patients do not take their medicines as physician prescribes, could lead the disease getting worse even to death.”

What do some patients think about the causes of worsening tuberculosis?

Muhammad Nadir says, “Stopping medication without consulting the physician, the microbe reduces the resistance of the body and could lead the microbe to be active again.”

Seyal, a resident of Nangarhar province says, “If we cut the medicines without the instruction of our physician, the microbe would attack again and our disease might not be treated easily.”

Doctor Omari says, “The doctor prescribes medicines according to the weight of the patient. If he/she cuts the medicines during medications, the resistance of the microbe increases and body resistance against disease decreases and the disease gets worsen.

To prevent infection of tuberculosis, take all of your medicines as  prescribed until your doctor takes you off them. Keep all doctor appointments. Always cover your mouth with a facemask when coughing or sneezing; Wash hands after coughing or sneezing.”