Symptoms Very Similar to COVID-19... Suspect 'Tuberculosis' if Cough Lasts Over 2 Weeks, 24th is 'Prevention Day'

Daedong Hospital, Consistent Health Management Needed to Build Immunity for Prevention

Daedong Hospital Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chief Lee Gyu-min. He stated that if a cough persists for more than two weeks, tuberculosis should be suspected.
[Image source=Daedong Hospital]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Which country ranks first in tuberculosis incidence among OECD countries? That country also ranks second in tuberculosis mortality. It is none other than the Republic of Korea.

Although the symptoms are similar to those currently seen with COVID-19, if you have been coughing continuously for more than two weeks, you should also consider the possibility of tuberculosis.

April 24 is World Tuberculosis Day, designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the importance of tuberculosis management.

In Korea, the day has been observed since 1982 and was renamed "Tuberculosis Prevention Day" after the revision of the Tuberculosis Prevention Act in 2011.

The WHO declared tuberculosis a global emergency in 1993 and has been managing tuberculosis since then. Thanks to efforts by many countries worldwide, tuberculosis mortality has decreased by 45% since 2000; however, Korea still ranks first in tuberculosis incidence and second in tuberculosis mortality among OECD member countries.

Tuberculosis is the infectious disease that has caused the most deaths in human history and remains a contagious disease requiring caution even with recent advances in medical technology.

Tuberculosis generally presents symptoms similar to respiratory diseases, starting with frequent coughing and sputum production, followed by fever, night sweats, easy fatigue, and weight loss.

It is often mistaken for a common cold or flu, which increases the risk of tuberculosis transmission. Especially recently, because symptoms resemble those of COVID-19, some tuberculosis patients have not received timely treatment, making vigilance even more necessary.

If coughing and sputum persist for more than two weeks and medication does not help, it is advisable to undergo tuberculosis testing. While pulmonary tuberculosis is most common, tuberculosis can occur in all organs of the body, including the pleura, lymph nodes, spine, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.

About 30% of people exposed to tuberculosis patients are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, and about 10% of those infected develop active disease. Pulmonary tuberculosis can be diagnosed through chest X-rays, sputum smear tests, and culture tests.

Tuberculosis spreads through the air, making prevention difficult. Therefore, the most important measure is to detect infectious tuberculosis patients early and ensure they receive treatment to shorten the transmission period.

Additionally, BCG vaccination must be administered within one month after birth to prevent pediatric tuberculosis.

After a tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs and other medications must continue for at least six months. Due to the long treatment period, it is essential to continue treatment without interruption.

Exposure to tuberculosis bacteria does not always lead to active tuberculosis. In 90% of infected individuals, the bacteria remain in a latent state, suppressed by the immune system, causing no symptoms and no detection in chest X-rays or sputum tests, but latent tuberculosis infection tests show positive results.

Latent tuberculosis can be prevented from progressing to active tuberculosis in 60?90% of cases through treatment.

Dr. Lee Kyu-min, Head of the Respiratory Center at Daedong Hospital (specialist in respiratory medicine), advised, "To prevent tuberculosis, maintain good health through a nutritious diet and regular exercise. If you have a cough or sputum lasting more than two weeks, it is best to consult a respiratory specialist. If a family member or acquaintance has tuberculosis, even without symptoms, it is essential to undergo latent tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis tests."

Tuberculosis is closely related to immunity, so it is known to occur more frequently in the elderly with weakened immune systems. Recently, tuberculosis cases have surged among young people such as students and office workers due to weakened immunity caused by academic stress, dieting, alcohol, smoking, lifestyle changes, and irregular meals.

Tuberculosis patients require a high-calorie, high-protein, and high-fat diet. They should also consume adequate sugars, minerals, calcium, and vitamins.

Avoid coffee and alcohol as much as possible and drink water frequently. Especially for women, it is important to combine exercise and dietary therapy rather than excessively dieting through food restriction to avoid nutritional imbalances.

The Respiratory Center at Daedong Hospital operates a tuberculosis counseling office staffed with specialized tuberculosis nurses for patient management and prevention. It is equipped with dedicated radiology and testing rooms for respiratory patients, enhancing satisfaction in tuberculosis and respiratory patient care.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.