Doctors Remind People to Beware of Asymptomatic Latent TB

KOMPAS.com – Some people may still not know, that there is a disease tuberculosis (TBC) who are asymptomatic. As for the conditions TB without symptoms This is known as latent TB, while symptomatic TB is known as active TB.

leave TB This is something to watch out for, because it can appear at any time. The chairman of the Stop TB Partnership Foundation, Dr. Nurul HW Luntungan, MPH, explained that latent TB is a disease caused by bacteria hiding in a person’s body.

Because the bacteria is hidden, the infected person does not appear to have TB disease or show symptoms.

“This (latent) TB disease is caused by bacteria, and this TB bacteria is different from other bacteria,” said Nurul, quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Tuesday (22/3/2022).

Also read: Shortness of breath, this is the condition of the lungs in TB patients

“This TB bacteria can hide in the body and people who get the bacteria don’t necessarily look like they have TB,” he continued.

The same thing was also expressed by the Coordinator of TB Substance, Directorate of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Dr. Tiffany Tiara Pakasi, MA. He said latent TB infection occurs when a person is exposed to the germs that cause TB, but has a good level of immunity.

If this happens, the patient is asymptomatic but the germs that cause TB are not lost but are in a sleeping position.

“So that at any time if his immune system drops and others he can trigger these germs so that active tuberculosis occurs,” said Tiffany.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said tuberculosis was still lurking in the community. Because, TB infection has caused at least 93,000 deaths per year in Indonesia.

Now, the government incorporates latent TB control into the health program. The latent TB elimination program was established after his party committed to ending this disease by 2030.

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