The Tuberculosis Comeback

19 Pages 4727 Words

involving various drugs to try to prevent this. The reason for the synergistic effect is because AIDS destroys the two types of cells critical to containing TB; those two cell-types are macrophages and receptor-bearing lymphocytes. Many patients with AIDS die of TB, and before they do, they help spread the contagious disease wherever they venture, whether they cough near someone while taking public transportation, or they talk to someone within close range.
MULTI-DRUG RESISTANCE, A MAN-MADE COSTLY PROBLEM:
TB is relatively easy to treat but the medication needs to be taken according to protocol. Many people infected with TB have a difficult time doing so, whether it is because their access to care is limited, or they feel better and therefore stop taking their medication before it is finished. Another factor is that doctors who are inexperienced with TB will mistakenly prescribe inadequate combinations of drugs that can cause patients to develop immunity and ultimately not overcome the disease. Most failures in treatment can be prevented bec...