This World TB Day we’re raising awareness of our service that supports people with Tuberculosis across Lancashire.
While England currently remains a low TB incidence country, it comes as cases of TB rose by 13% last year, classifying it as a public health threat.
Our Communicable Diseases Service is led by Nurse Richard Cardwell. Richard said:
“This World TB Day (24 March) we want people to know it is preventable, curable and treatable, so we promote awareness and understanding of Tuberculosis, its signs and symptoms, testing and treatment.
Most of our patients have TB, either actively or inactively within their body. We oversee treatment and make sure our patients take medications as prescribed. We screen people that have been in contact with someone with active TB disease, and make sure all patients and their family have support in the community. We can also arrange screening for new people entering the UK from high-risk TB endemic countries and provide the BCG vaccination to eligible neonates and older children.”
TB is a bacterial infection that most frequently affects the lungs, which is when it is infectious. It can have a serious impact on health and can often be misdiagnosed as other illness (including COVID-19).
Symptoms of Tuberculosis include a persistent productive cough lasting longer than 3 weeks, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
It can be treated with a prolonged course of specific antibiotics but can be serious, particularly if not treated. Timely and accurate detection and management of TB improves disease outcomes and reduces onward transmission.
If you are worried about any of the symptoms listed, or would like further information regarding Tuberculosis, read more about our Communicable Diseases Team and make contact on our website.
