Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
United Daily News / Reporter Chen Huihui / Taipei Report 2008.01.10 02:55 am
Deputy Director Lin Ding of the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, stated that the incidence rate of tuberculosis among close contacts of open tuberculosis patients is approximately 2,500 to 3,000 per 100,000, which is 35 to 41 times higher than that of the general population.
Lin Ding mentioned that there are an average of 15,000 new tuberculosis cases annually in the country, with about 6,000 of them being open tuberculosis patients.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that there are currently about 300 to 400 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in the country, and 17 patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, which is difficult to treat.
Lin Ding noted that according to 2005 data, the incidence rate of tuberculosis in the country is 72.5 per 100,000. In comparison, the incidence rate among close contacts of open tuberculosis patients is significantly higher.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that about 800 people die from tuberculosis each year in the country. Lin Ding said that generally, the cases of illness and death are mostly older individuals. He pointed out that after being infected with tuberculosis bacteria, most people do not immediately fall ill. These "latent infections" have a small number of tuberculosis bacteria in their bodies and do not transmit the bacteria to others. If preventive medication is administered, it can reduce the chance of developing the disease by 90% in the future.
Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174262. shtml
United Daily News / Reporter Chen Huihui / Taipei Report 2008.01.10 02:55 am
The Department of Health's Center for Disease Control announced yesterday that a 14-year-old junior high school girl in the northern region had been suffering from a severe long-term cough and had lost weight to only 26 kilograms. She recently fainted in her home bathroom and was sent to the hospital with no vital signs. After examination, it was found that the girl had contracted severe open pulmonary tuberculosis, likely from her father who also had tuberculosis. Although her vital signs were briefly restored after emergency treatment, she died within four days.
It is speculated that the girl had been infected with tuberculosis for some time, and the CDC is taking this case very seriously. However, there is very little medical history available for the girl, and health authorities are unable to determine when she first became ill. They are urgently tracking the girl's parents, sister, and 45 close contacts at her school. Currently, it has been confirmed that the sister also has open pulmonary tuberculosis, while the mother shows no symptoms and the father has not had a recurrence. CDC Deputy Director Lin Ding stated that, excluding one student who dropped out and could not be tracked, none of the 44 individuals have shown symptoms, but they will continue to be monitored for a full year.
The CDC reported that although the indigenous girl had been coughing for years, becoming increasingly weak and losing weight to 26 kilograms, almost "skin and bones," her family's financial situation was very poor, and she rarely sought medical treatment. When she did see a doctor in August last year, the physician initially did not suspect tuberculosis, mistaking her condition for a cold or even suspecting hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, or arrhythmia.
Lin Ding mentioned that six years ago, health authorities discovered that the girl's father had open pulmonary tuberculosis. The deceased girl, her sister, and her mother had all undergone tuberculin tests at that time. He said that the girl's test result was strongly positive, and although her chest X-ray was normal, it indicated that she had already been infected but had not yet developed the disease. The girl's father did not take his medication regularly and eventually had to be admitted to a chronic disease hospital, only completing his treatment in May 2003.
Lin Ding lamented that when the girl was admitted to the hospital this time, both of her lungs were already damaged. Although her vital signs were temporarily restored after emergency treatment, she died of multiple organ failure within four days.
To prevent unfortunate cases like this girl's latent infection, the CDC will promote preventive medication for close contacts under the age of 12 of open pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Taking medication for four to six months can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174269. shtml
6,000 New Cases of Active Tuberculosis Annually
Deputy Director Lin Ding of the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, stated that the incidence rate of tuberculosis among close contacts of open tuberculosis patients is approximately 2,500 to 3,000 per 100,000, which is 35 to 41 times higher than that of the general population.Lin Ding mentioned that there are an average of 15,000 new tuberculosis cases annually in the country, with about 6,000 of them being open tuberculosis patients.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that there are currently about 300 to 400 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in the country, and 17 patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, which is difficult to treat.
Lin Ding noted that according to 2005 data, the incidence rate of tuberculosis in the country is 72.5 per 100,000. In comparison, the incidence rate among close contacts of open tuberculosis patients is significantly higher.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that about 800 people die from tuberculosis each year in the country. Lin Ding said that generally, the cases of illness and death are mostly older individuals. He pointed out that after being infected with tuberculosis bacteria, most people do not immediately fall ill. These "latent infections" have a small number of tuberculosis bacteria in their bodies and do not transmit the bacteria to others. If preventive medication is administered, it can reduce the chance of developing the disease by 90% in the future.
Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174262. shtml
Middle School Girl Dies of Tuberculosis after Persistent Cough
The Department of Health's Center for Disease Control announced yesterday that a 14-year-old junior high school girl in the northern region had been suffering from a severe long-term cough and had lost weight to only 26 kilograms. She recently fainted in her home bathroom and was sent to the hospital with no vital signs. After examination, it was found that the girl had contracted severe open pulmonary tuberculosis, likely from her father who also had tuberculosis. Although her vital signs were briefly restored after emergency treatment, she died within four days.
It is speculated that the girl had been infected with tuberculosis for some time, and the CDC is taking this case very seriously. However, there is very little medical history available for the girl, and health authorities are unable to determine when she first became ill. They are urgently tracking the girl's parents, sister, and 45 close contacts at her school. Currently, it has been confirmed that the sister also has open pulmonary tuberculosis, while the mother shows no symptoms and the father has not had a recurrence. CDC Deputy Director Lin Ding stated that, excluding one student who dropped out and could not be tracked, none of the 44 individuals have shown symptoms, but they will continue to be monitored for a full year.
The CDC reported that although the indigenous girl had been coughing for years, becoming increasingly weak and losing weight to 26 kilograms, almost "skin and bones," her family's financial situation was very poor, and she rarely sought medical treatment. When she did see a doctor in August last year, the physician initially did not suspect tuberculosis, mistaking her condition for a cold or even suspecting hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, or arrhythmia.
Lin Ding mentioned that six years ago, health authorities discovered that the girl's father had open pulmonary tuberculosis. The deceased girl, her sister, and her mother had all undergone tuberculin tests at that time. He said that the girl's test result was strongly positive, and although her chest X-ray was normal, it indicated that she had already been infected but had not yet developed the disease. The girl's father did not take his medication regularly and eventually had to be admitted to a chronic disease hospital, only completing his treatment in May 2003.
Lin Ding lamented that when the girl was admitted to the hospital this time, both of her lungs were already damaged. Although her vital signs were temporarily restored after emergency treatment, she died of multiple organ failure within four days.
To prevent unfortunate cases like this girl's latent infection, the CDC will promote preventive medication for close contacts under the age of 12 of open pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Taking medication for four to six months can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174269. shtml