I ave a friend whose family had an history of tuberculosis,he has bin having persistent cough for 4 weeks alongsides fever nd pain,i want to knw if tuberculosis can b passed down from parents to offspring

Nope its not! But there are certain risk factors that predispose some individuals to certain diseases. It can't be passed genetically or vertically (vertical transmission of diseases) as in the case of some infections. As far as I know TB is transfered horizontally.

Tuberculosis is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, a gram positive rod, mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted by shedding of the bacilli through sputum as a result of spontaneous coughing, it is usually latent infection, without cough, opportunistic infections such as AIDS will lead to chronic coughing, perforation of lung tissue with ulceration, bloody sputum.....Finally it is never genetically acquired , so from my epidemiological knowledge he may have contacted it from the father, people with tuberculosis are supposed to be quarantined to prevent spread.

cowleg: Tuberculosis is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, a gram positive rod, mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted by shedding of the bacilli through sputum as a result of spontaneous coughing, it is usually latent infection, without cough, opportunistic infections such as AIDS will lead to chronic coughing, perforation of lung tissue with ulceration, bloody sputum.....Finally it is never genetically acquired , so from my epidemiological knowledge he may have contacted it from the father, people with tuberculosis are supposed to be quarantined to prevent spread.

i dnt think his dad has it because d mum who suffered from it is deceased nw nd its sum 9years ago dat it happened..

Ghyft: i dnt think his dad has it because d mum who suffered from it is deceased nw nd its sum 9years ago dat it happened..

the disease is highly contagious i strongly advice his entire family to visit a laboratory, it is easily spread among family because they are the ones close to the sufferer or carrier.

cowleg:

the disease is highly contagious i strongly advice his entire family to visit a laboratory, it is easily spread among family because they are the ones close to the sufferer or carrier.

The Dr himself!

[quote author=cowleg]

the disease is highly contagious i strongly advice his entire family to visit a laboratory, it is easily spread among family because they are the ones close to the sufferer or carrier. [/[center]quote[/center][center][/center]]even afta 9 years

[quote author=Ghyft][/quote]

Yes even after 9 years!

marvelling:

Yes even after 9 years!

if dey ave contracted dis illness,i think dey shld b aving symptoms all dis time na...or wat do u think

[quote author=Ghyft][/quote]

Yes even after 9 years! TB is a latent infection. The guy might have had it for years without symptoms

Ghyft: if dey ave contracted dis illness,i think dey shld b aving symptoms all dis time na...or wat do u think

TB can remain in the body for a long time depending on how strong the persons immune system is. If the person becomes immunocompromised, the infection will pick up from where it left off.

marvelling:

TB can remain in the body for a long time depending on how strong the persons immune system is. If the person becomes immunocompromised, the infection will pick up from where it left off.

hmmm.. nw i understand....i sent u a DM...hope u ave rectified d problem wit ur email

Ghyft: hmmm.. nw i understand....i sent u a DM...hope u ave rectified d problem wit ur email

I've replied you.

Thanks my fellow microbiologist marvelling for helping out..........

cowleg: Thanks my fellow microbiologist marvelling for helping out..........

You're welcome

What about the link on my signature

Ghyft: i dnt think his dad has it because d mum who suffered from it is deceased nw nd its sum 9years ago dat it happened..

Let him also screen for HIV!
Don't mean to scare him but it's very important!

Sirgen05:
Let him also screen for HIV!
Don't mean to scare him but it's very important!

thanks a lot,dis my friend has already been diagonised wit TB nd is taking treatment nw...thanks once more

No, it is not.

It's Definitely not hereditary.

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease, this implies that by just standing and talking with someone who has it can make you get the disease.

Besides, if it was really hereditary, your Modern Biology would have informed you.

Quatermaine: It's Definitely not hereditary.

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease, this implies that by just standing and talking with someone who has it can make you get the disease.

Besides, if it was really hereditary, your Modern Biology would have informed you.

are u saying all air borne diseases are not heriditary??
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Are u saying i shouldn't go beyond modern biology or does modern biology know all
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I would want to know please

I love your fighting spirit

Ghyft: are u saying all air borne diseases are not heriditary??

To the best of my knowledge. Yes!. If you know any, you let me know.

Are u saying i shouldn't go beyond modern biology or does modern biology know all

Definitely not.. But the book dealt with hereditary disease very well..

I would want to know please

I believe I have tried.

cowleg:

the disease is highly contagious i strongly advice his entire family to visit a laboratory, it is easily spread among family because they are the ones close to the sufferer or carrier.

+1. With TB, you usually have to spend a great deal of time with someone who has it before you actually catch it. In other words, it's easier to get it from a family member who lives in the same house as you than from a stranger you stand next to on a train. It's contagious, but it has greater chances of being transmitted via someone you live with or work with (who has it) than from a stranger.

marvelling:
Yes even after 9 years! TB is a latent infection. The guy might have had it for years without symptoms

It can be latent or active. It being latent is not really a good thing. One still needs to be watched closely to make sure the symptoms do not develop and should they develop, immediate action should ensue because tb is a silent killer. You will just go to sleep one night and not wake up the next morning. It can be treated easily, although I don't mean "easily" in terms of it being a walk through the park. To prevent latent tb from ever becoming active, patients have to be on meds for months, such as prophylaxis for 9-months; it requires a 9-month commitment. There're risks associated with the meds (e.g. liver enzymes can go up) so they have to be monitored regularly. It's up to the patient to take them or not if they're worried about the risks; it's just that when they start taking it they can't stop. It's always saddening to hear about people dying from tb in Nigeria in this day and age (especially after receiving treatment) because there're certain ways to treat it, but most of the time they receive improper treatment or they don't even have access to it.

Yield:
+1. With TB, you usually have to spend a great deal of time with someone who has it before you actually catch it. In other words, it's easier to get it from a family member who lives in the same house as you than from a stranger you stand next to on a train. It's contagious, but it has greater chances of being transmitted via someone you live with or work with (who has it) than from a stranger.


It can be latent or active. It being latent is not really a good thing. One still needs to be watched closely to make sure the symptoms do not develop and should they develop, immediate action should ensue because tb is a silent killer. You will just go to sleep one night and not wake up the next morning. It can be treated easily, although I don't mean "easily" in terms of it being a walk through the park. To prevent latent tb from ever becoming active, patients have to be on meds for months, such as prophylaxis for 9-months; it requires a 9-month commitment. There're risks associated with the meds (e.g. liver enzymes can go up) so they have to be monitored regularly. It's up to the patient to take them or not if they're worried about the risks; it's just that when they start taking it they can't stop. It's always saddening to hear about people dying from tb in Nigeria in this day and age (especially after receiving treatment) because there're certain ways to treat it, but most of the time they receive improper treatment or they don't even have access to it.

i see....he has TB nd i think it is d latent one sort of...it was affecting his heart already before it was diagonised to b TB...maybe he got it from his mum some ten years ago.....he's getting better though...thanks a lot my learned friend

Quatermaine: I love your fighting spirit To the best of my knowledge. Yes!. If you know any, you let me know.
Definitely not.. But the book dealt with hereditary disease very well..
I believe I have tried.

let us not push it further...thanks a bunch bro for stopping by