THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
KIBONG'OTO INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL
<p data-end="892" data-start="557"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium <em data-end="662" data-start="634">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>. It primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, spine, brain, and kidneys (extrapulmonary TB). TB remains a major public health concern in Tanzania and globally.</span></p> <p data-end="1046" data-start="894"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">At Kibong’oto Infectious Disease Hospital (KIDH), specialized diagnosis, treatment, and management of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB are provided</span></p>
<h3 data-end="1278" data-start="1256"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;"><strong data-end="1276" data-start="1260">Risk Factors</strong></span></h3> <ul data-end="1465" data-start="1279"> <li data-end="1328" data-start="1279"> <p data-end="1328" data-start="1281"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Close contact with a person who has active TB</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1346" data-start="1329"> <p data-end="1346" data-start="1331"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">HIV infection</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1369" data-start="1347"> <p data-end="1369" data-start="1349"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Weak immune system</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1386" data-start="1370"> <p data-end="1386" data-start="1372"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Malnutrition</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1399" data-start="1387"> <p data-end="1399" data-start="1389"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Diabetes</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1433" data-start="1400"> <p data-end="1433" data-start="1402"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Overcrowded living conditions</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1465" data-start="1434"> <p data-end="1465" data-start="1436"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Smoking and substance abuse</span></p> </li> </ul>
<p><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">TB is caused by <em data-end="1114" data-start="1086">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> bacteria. It spreads from person to person through the air when someone with active TB of the lungs coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.</span></p>
<ul> <li><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Persistent cough (lasting more than two weeks)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Chest pain</span></li> <li data-end="1578" data-start="1557"> <p data-end="1578" data-start="1559"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Coughing up blood</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1588" data-start="1579"> <p data-end="1588" data-start="1581"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Fever</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1605" data-start="1589"> <p data-end="1605" data-start="1591"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Night sweats</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1621" data-start="1606"> <p data-end="1621" data-start="1608"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Weight loss</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1633" data-start="1622"> <p data-end="1633" data-start="1624"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Fatigue</span></p> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;"> </span></p>
<p data-end="1800" data-start="1726"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">At KIDH, TB is diagnosed using advanced laboratory technologies including:</span></p> <ul data-end="1988" data-start="1802"> <li data-end="1829" data-start="1802"> <p data-end="1829" data-start="1804"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Sputum smear microscopy</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1859" data-start="1830"> <p data-end="1859" data-start="1832"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">GeneXpert MTB/RIF testing</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1906" data-start="1860"> <p data-end="1906" data-start="1862"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">TB culture and drug susceptibility testing</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1922" data-start="1907"> <p data-end="1922" data-start="1909"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Chest X-ray</span></p> </li> <li data-end="1988" data-start="1923"> <p data-end="1988" data-start="1925"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Molecular diagnostic techniques (for drug resistance detection)</span></p> </li> </ul>
<p data-end="2043" data-start="2015"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">TB is treatable and curable.</span></p> <ul data-end="2355" data-start="2045"> <li data-end="2125" data-start="2045"> <p data-end="2125" data-start="2047"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Drug-sensitive TB is treated with a combination of antibiotics for 6 months.</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2213" data-start="2126"> <p data-end="2213" data-start="2128"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Drug-resistant TB requires longer treatment with specialized second-line medicines.</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2272" data-start="2214"> <p data-end="2272" data-start="2216"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Treatment adherence is critical to prevent resistance.</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2355" data-start="2273"> <p data-end="2355" data-start="2275"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Patients receive comprehensive clinical monitoring and support services at KIDH.</span></p> </li> </ul>
<ul> <li data-end="2442" data-start="2404"> <p data-end="2442" data-start="2406"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Early testing and prompt treatment</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2489" data-start="2443"> <p data-end="2489" data-start="2445"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Proper ventilation in homes and workplaces</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2529" data-start="2490"> <p data-end="2529" data-start="2492"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Wearing masks in high-risk settings</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2581" data-start="2530"> <p data-end="2581" data-start="2532"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">TB preventive therapy for high-risk individuals</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2627" data-start="2582"> <p data-end="2627" data-start="2584"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">Infection prevention and control measures</span></p> </li> <li data-end="2659" data-start="2628"> <p data-end="2659" data-start="2630"><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;">BCG vaccination in children</span></p> </li> </ul>
