Beware TB (tuberculosis) can attack the brain child

DISEASE Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in Indonesia. Not only adults but attacking the child can get. TB can attack almost all organs, most often the lungs. Yet TB attacks on children is also very vulnerable to interfere with other organs the lungs, especially the brain. As a result, the growth of affected children, even handicapped.

''The main concern is not just limited to attacking the lungs as in adults, but when other organs interfere with the child,''said Dr. Atikah SpA from RK Hospital Caritas Palembang.

In children, the light of this child specialist, pulmonary TB usually does not cause a long cough. Infants and children who suffer from TB are often only show symptoms of fever, intermittent light that healed itself but not treated. Other symptoms of appetite loss, lethargy, weight decreased. ''So, tuberculosis in children did not show typical symptoms,''he said adding the cause of TB bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is transmitted through the spark sputum.

Atikah says, tuberculosis in children vulnerable to attacks such as bone, eyes, and especially the brain. TB attacks the brain, for example, can cause disability. Children at risk failed to develop, difficult to speak, weak hands or other defects that need physiotherapy treatment.

''What is clear if TB is not treated immediately, complications can occur to the lining of the brain. TB causes fever, convulsions and decreased awareness. When healed, usually causing the symptoms remains a lifelong disability (paralysis, blindness, etc.),''he said. When tuberculosis attacks the gland, for example in the armpits or neck, will be enlarged glands and rupture will occur when the skin TB (skrofuloderma). If the TB germs attack the bone can occur tuberculosis of bone, usually the most common is the hip joint and the vertebrae, which causes the child hunchback.

To determine whether children suffering from TB is not as easy as in adults because the child's symptoms are often not typical. The diagnosis is usually based on clinical symptoms, skin test (Mantoux test) and chest images. A history of tuberculosis disease in adults who frequent contact with the child helps the diagnosis.

TB in children is not contagious, so very different from TB in adults is transmitted through saliva spray. If there are children who suffer from tuberculosis, to look for the source of transmission in adults around the child.

Treatment of TB in children usually takes 6 months and should be taking medication regularly. Besides tuberculosis in children is not enough to simply be treated with medication, but improving the environment and the improvement of nutrition is very important to strengthen the child's immune system. For prevention, conducted BCG immunization in infants at the age of 0 - 3 months. (21)