A Benin-based medical practitioner and paediatrician, Dr Aisosa Oribuare, has advised the public on regular use of face mask to prevent tuberculosis (TB).
He gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin.
TB is a bacterial infection that spreads through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person and mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body, including the tummy (abdomen), glands, bones and the nervous system.
The medical practitioner said that the bacteria which caused tuberculosis spread from person to person, adding that “Nigeria has one of the highest levels of tuberculosis because of the poverty rate.
“There are many people in our country living below the poverty line. These people suffer from poor living conditions, where diseases can roam freely.”
According to him, the body’s immune system can prevent one from becoming sick even when the body harbors the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.
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He listed some signs and symptoms of active TB to include coughing for three or more weeks, coughing with blood or mucus, chest pain or pain with breathing or coughing, and unintentional weight loss.
He said tuberculosis could also affect other parts of the body, including the kidneys and the spine.
“When TB occurs outside the lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organ involved”, he said.
He advised prompt medical attention when one feels feverish, experiencing unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats or persistent cough.
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