Pulmonologist, Head of the hospital for adults Lidiya Taralenko warned that anyone can become infected.
This was reported by URA-Inform with reference to Obozrevatel.
She noted that the war contributes to the growth of tuberculosis cases in Ukraine. Among the reasons are untimely requests for medical care, unsatisfactory living conditions in the occupied territories and inadequate nutrition.
“One of the reasons is the untimely request for medical help when complaining of malaise, weakness, sweating, fatigue. It is also the inability to see a doctor in time, for example, in the occupied territories. This is staying during the occupation in unsatisfactory living conditions, insufficient nutrition, etc.,” she said.
At the same time, Lidiya Taralenko added: tuberculosis infection requires certain conditions for classical tuberculosis to develop.
“We all get infected, we all come into contact with this flora. The tuberculosis bacillus is something that is all around us. But only a few get sick – only those who have a reduced immune response. And it is precisely in war conditions that, unfortunately, it happens that a patient seeks help later, cannot seek help at all, or conditions have developed that contribute to the development of the tuberculosis process. Therefore, unfortunately, there will be more tuberculosis. There is already more of it,” the doctor explained.
Lidiya Taralenko noted that the first sign of pulmonary tuberculosis is usually weakness. In addition, the patient may develop a cough – both dry and with sputum, as well as a slight increase in temperature and profuse night sweats. However, in some cases, at the initial stage of the disease, the patient may not experience any pronounced symptoms.
“The early stage of tuberculosis, primary tuberculosis foci can be detected by the screening method – chest X-ray, carried out routinely, annually, as we have always recommended,” the doctor said.
It will also be useful to know what signals indicate health problems: what to pay attention to.