Tips for treating TB (tuberculosis) sufferers at home

Patients with tuberculosis (TB) are required to be in a room that does not have much physical contact with many people to prevent wider transmission. The reason is, TB disease transmission can occur easily through the air and close contact. However, tuberculosis sufferers really need support and even direct care assistance from the closest person. So, what if one of your family members has this disease? What kind of care for TB patients needs to be done at home?

Guide to treating TB sufferers at home

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and attacks the lungs of the sufferer. Symptoms of tuberculosis arise due to weakened respiratory system function and affect the sufferer's quality of life. In severe conditions, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis can also affect other organs (extra pulmonary TB) so that the sufferer's health condition deteriorates.

According to the world health organization, WHO, tuberculosis sufferers are also required to receive comprehensive intensive treatment. One of them is by following the method of taking TB medication according to the schedule. Therefore, TB sufferers need care assistance from the closest people, especially family members at home.

To help family members affected by tuberculosis while minimizing the risk of transmission, special knowledge is needed about treating tuberculosis patients at home.

Here are some tips that you can follow when treating TB patients at home:

1. Provide a special room for TB patients

Not all TB sufferers have to undergo treatment in isolation, ordinary active pulmonary TB patients can undergo outpatient treatment. However, patients with drug resistant TB (MDR TB) should receive treatment at a rehabilitation center, or if forced to be treated at home, they must rest in a special isolation room.

One of the tips for treating tuberculosis sufferers at home is to make sure they don't go outside the isolation room carelessly. However, that doesn't mean you have to lock it up.

Make sure you provide an understanding of why you are doing this. Let them know that you are not isolating them, but rather temporarily limiting direct contact.

Remind you that TB is a contagious disease. Limiting direct contact will help reduce the risk of spreading the disease to those around you.

2. Use a mask

Not only are you in charge of accompanying and caring for TB patients, you also need to warn those who want to visit to use a mask or other face shield while in the room.

Make sure you always wear a mask when you want to interact and enter the patient's room.

You should also not allow small children to come to visit the room. That way, at least you can prevent the transmission of the TB bacteria which can happen to anyone, anytime.

3. Remind them to take medicine

In addition to ensuring that no one goes in and out of a special room carelessly, care for TB sufferers at home can be done by reminding them not to forget to take TB medicine.

If tuberculosis drugs are not taken properly, drug resistance or resistance effects can appear. That is why, never get bored to remind and make sure they take their medication according to the predetermined schedule. It would be better if you are willing to help patients by being a supervisor for taking TB medication (PMO) who reminds you of a routine medication schedule.

So that you don't forget to forget, you can create a schedule on your calendar or set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself and your tuberculosis patient. That way, they may not miss a session taking medication, which is very important in the healing process.

You can also make small notes that are placed where you can easily see them and in a room where TB patients can see them.

In addition, you also need to remind patients not to forget to attend regular consultation sessions with doctors as scheduled.

4. Listening to complaints

Taking part in the home care of any patient, including tuberculosis sufferers, requires quite a lot of patience. Limited circumstances certainly often make them frustrated and need friends to confide in. This is where your role is needed.

During the healing process, which may last for 6-8 months, there will be times when the patient feels tired and wants to stop taking medication. Not to mention that the stigma of this disease makes patients feel rejected and alienated.

Even if you get tired sometimes, try to hold on. Listen patiently to their complaints and grief. If you feel the time is right, try to remind again how important it is to complete the treatment. Not only for the patient, but also for those around him.

This may encourage patients to be more enthusiastic about consulting doctors and taking medication.

Spending time with tuberculosis patients from the start at least makes them feel they have the support of their loved ones during treatment. If you feel overwhelmed, care for family members who are TB patients at home can be done with help from other people. That way, you can assist and support them well.

TB treatment is long and complicated. That's why care support for TB from TB members at home is so valuable.