Story by: Louisa Kukua Barnes
Health experts from the 37 military hospital, Dr. Awura Adjoa Nunoo and Dr. Philip Nyinaku, have raised concerns about the increasing impact of tuberculosis, a contagious disease that continues to affect both young and old people, during the Max Morning Show discussion.
Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that is caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis, mainly affecting the lungs and spreading when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Dr. Awura Adjoa Nunoo, a public health physician specialist at the 37 Military Hospital, expressed concern over people’s choice of self-medicating rather than seeking medical advice from health professionals to detect tuberculosis. She added that patients’ refusal to comply with the long duration of treatment has also proven to be another challenge and a contributing factor to its spread.
Dr. Nunoo urged Ghanaians to pay attention to symptoms that may point to tuberculosis. Symptoms include a persistent cough of more than 2 weeks, bloody sputum, night sweats, and unexplainable weight loss.
Speaking on the show, Dr. Nyinaku, a senior public health physician specialist at the 37 Military Hospital, explained that overcrowded living conditions and poor ventilation, smoking, and diseases that cause immune deficiencies contribute significantly to the contraction of the disease.
He also emphasized the challenge of delayed detection as a cause.
“There are two types of TB. One is known as latent TB, which shows no symptoms until triggered. Many of us have latent TB, and not going for health screenings to detect and treat it may turn it into active TB. TB is curable.”
As preventative measures for tuberculosis, Dr. Nunoo advised that strengthening the immune system by including more fruits and vegetables in diets could help prevent the disease.
She also added that people should be cautious of medications and steroids that suppress the immune system. She encouraged people to go for health screenings once or twice a year and make it a part of their lifestyle.
