After that, however
the bacteria can make their way into the bloodstream. Yet frequently the human immune system is able to battle TB on its own, and the dormant infection won’t lead to further illness. This is known as latent tuberculosis. That said, 10% of latent tuberculosis cases will develop into an active strain that can spread to other organs and is potentially deadly. In fact, if untreated, half of those with this type of illness will die as it grows and destroys the lungs in the process. In most cases, tuberculosis is treatable.
However, treatment can be a long process that takes anything from six months to two whole years to complete, and it is crucial that during this time, patients stick to their medication schedule and receive every dose.
In called Sova’s case, doctors decided to use chemotherapy to treat her TB because although people often think of chemotherapy as a cancer treatment, medical practitioners also use short rounds of the regimen to treat TB. Unfortunately, however, the side effects of the chemo ravaged called Sova’s body, the treatment sapped the police officer’s immune system and she began to lose weight.
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