Tuberculosis: Why you should seek help after two weeks cough

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole  has advised the public to see a healthcare provider if  they have persistent cough for two or more weeks as it could be tuberculosis.
The minister in a statement to mark the World TB Day recently said there is need for sensitization to spread the message that TB is curable, and that its diagnosis and drugs are available in all DOTS centers nation- wide.
He also said Nigerians would soon start accessing care for tuberculosis at primary healthcare facilities because the federal government has included the management and control of tuberculosis among the services to be delivered in the planned 10,000 primary healthcare facilities across the country.  
In an interview with the Daily Trust Health Desk, Dr Biodun Ogungbo, a brain and spine surgeon said many people think that TB only affects the lungs and causes the sufferer to cough while losing a lot of weight. “This is perhaps the commonest way TB presents. But, many other sufferers do not have cough as it affects their bones leading to destruction of the spine and deformity. Many of the patients with hunchbacks may have suffered from TB of the bone,” he said.
He said the TB bacteria is spread from person to person through the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings or spits indiscriminately.
He said, if there is a reduction in the resistance to infection in one’s body (reduced immunity), which usually occurs when someone has HIV, is on certain medications like steroids for prolonged period of time or cancer therapy that reduces immunity or chronic malnutrition, the inactive infection can become a disease and the TB bacteria will multiply in the body.
While stating that the Federal Government’s National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTLCP) needs support from all stakeholders, he said there is also a toll free number people can call for more information  on tuberculosis- 08002255282.
TB diagnosis and treatment are free in government designated Health Facilities.