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Tuberculosis May Become A Global Threat Again
Iphtashu Fitz writes "The journal Nature Medicine is due to release a report today on how highly drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis are on the verge of becoming a global epidimic. Strains of TB that are highly resistant to antibiotics are becoming increasingly prevalent in places like Russia, eastern Europe, and China, and only small changes are required to make these strains start spreading quickly. Treatment for multiple-drug-resistant strains of TB requires a carefully monitored cocktail of drugs taken for months on end, a regimin that many, especially in poorer countries are unlikely to follow to completion. The strategy used by the World Health Organization to combat TB, the "directly observed treatment, short course" or DOTS, involves using trained health workers to watch patients take their long courses of drugs, since even a little carelessness could result in TB mutating into a more drug resistant form within the patient." Oh, Alexander Fleming ? where art thou now?
This is why:
(1) If you're proscribed antibiotics, you should take them exactly as instructed; take them for the whole course, do not stop in the last couple days or when the symptoms go away;
(2) Do not attempt to "chase off" what you think might be an oncoming infection by taking a "leftover" pill or two from a previous subscription
(3) Realize that many infections are viral; do not expect or demand to be proscribed antibiotics contrary to your doctor's wishes
Doctors are now becoming very aware of bad behaviors which cause bacteria to become antibiotic-resistant, but convincing people to follow good practice is apparently harder.
My father lost his father when he was a mere 9
years old to TB. I don't understand why people
treat this as "someone elses problem" - it isn't a
SEP. It *will* bite you. You'll never have to worry about new diseases because the old ones are doing nicely...
The irony with TB is that
people think they are getting well, and stop taking
the drugs (which are making them feel ill). End result: great selection pressure to make resistant bugs).
I for one pray that we can stamp out that big disease called ignorance (hey, look at what happened in Nigeria with that dumb fuck (who cares
what religion?) and Polio). Damn. I had a friend
with scars from hell and calipers when I was a kid
and I'm a mere 45 year old. I never want to see
such things, not even in my nightmares...
Even things as simple as the commom cold are highly mobile conpared to a "few" years ago. Given air travel what it is today; a small outbreak of anything highly contagious can spell absolute disaster on a global scale. It's easy to forget people have only recently become the global travelers we now are. TB and all the others are no longer isolated to the point of initial/original concentration. Adds new meaning to "just off the jet".
Having the largest prison population in the world is a much bigger threat to America than H1B workers ever will be. Prisons are a breeding ground for communicable disease.
Personally, I hold doctors highly liable for the abuse, misuse and general over-use of antibiotics. Of course the patients are pretty damned stupid too, but I have seen cases where the doctor didn't see anything but a blood test before prescribing the antibiotics.
There are so many natural ways to inspire your own immune system to build and strengthen itself and it seems to me that for capitalistic reasons alone medical professionals do not prescribe them.
I'm not a doctor or medical expert either. But I'll say this much -- from the time I decided I was done taking pills and crap for every minor problem out there and let my body do its own healing, I have been a healthier, stronger person and I can't remember the last time I was sick... I remember what it was -- the flu -- but it was great than 5 years ago and basically, I just waited it out -- fever and headaches and agony and all. I recognize the fact that extreme situations call for the use of medicines and other modern medical techniques. But I think they are way over-used and in my opinion (guess) it's so they can way over-charge people.
If it's "worldwide" it should be called a pandemic threat, not simply an epidemic threat.
Yeah, I'm a Gen-X'er, and I know how glad I was to have an effective AIDS vaccine when I was growing up.
If the doctors are at fault, it is for bowing to the demands of ignorant, demanding patients who want antibiotics for every sniffle that little Tyffany or Brett get. I have had several co-workers who just wouldn't give up the belief that they could blast the common cold by having their pediatrician shoot up Junior with penicillin.
The Mexican practice of selling antibiotics over the counter doesn't help either. They're treated as a cure-all down there, and immigrants continue the practice.
Like the poster said, you're better off living a clean and healthy lifestyle, putting up with minor ailments, and saving antibiotics for actual bacterial infections.
Stefan
What idiot modded this funny?
I know we all hate Microsoft's business practices and Bill Gates' view of OSS, but it's impossible to deny the great things his foundation has done worldwide.
Please, folks, separate the man from the business.
The global economy is a great thing until you feel it locally.
I have a friend, who is a pulmonologist in Russia. He told me that in the past doctors rarely became infected even if exposed to TB constantly. Nowadays, doctors themselves lack vitamins and put under stress in Russia. This pulmonologist was infected once, and other doctors fall ill regularly.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. - Yogi Berra
Somebody already replied that whoever moderated parent as Funny is a fucking moron.
The problem with TB is it is poor man's disease (mostly), so there is not much money in it as patients with tuberculosis have no money for so called innovative drugs. Because of that there is not much research going on new treatments of TB. This makes Mr Gates' foundation even more valuable.
OK, this guy is a blood thirsty businness shark but this doesn't mean everything he does is mean. It is better if he spends some of his enormous amounts of money on TB research than hoard it or build yet another billions of dollars worth house.
Raf
P.S. OK, as there are already more than 200 posts in this subject, probably all I've written is redundant, but what the heck...