Back to school season! A hidden concern on campus that cannot be ignored - tuberculosis

Back to school season

The temperature fluctuates in winter and spring, which is the peak season for acute respiratory infectious diseases. Students are about to return to campus in the new year. While paying attention to various common acute respiratory infectious diseases, there is a chronic respiratory infectious disease that should not be ignored, that is tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is one of the infectious diseases that schools focus on preventing and controlling. Once it occurs, it is easy to cause the spread of tuberculosis on campus. The occurrence and spread of tuberculosis in schools not only harms the physical and mental health of students, but also delays their studies and disrupts the normal teaching order of the school. Therefore, teachers and students need to be particularly vigilant about tuberculosis in schools.

01

Why are students more susceptible to tuberculosis?

The "culprit" that causes tuberculosis is a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is highly contagious and pathogenic. On campus, students frequently come into contact with each other. Once a patient with infectious tuberculosis appears, it is very easy to spread on campus. Especially in some boarding schools, the sanitary conditions are poor, and students' nutrition is not enough, so the risk of tuberculosis is higher. Junior and senior high school graduates have great academic pressure, little physical exercise, often go to bed late and get up early, have irregular work and rest, and have a decreased body immunity, which will greatly increase the chance of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Everyone should be vigilant!

02

How is tuberculosis spread on campus?

When infectious pulmonary tuberculosis patients cough, sneeze or talk loudly, they spray droplets containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Large droplets quickly fall to the ground, while smaller droplets evaporate and become droplet nuclei, which can remain suspended in the air for a long time. If classrooms and dormitories are not well ventilated, and students gather together without taking protective measures, they are easily infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causing the spread of pulmonary tuberculosis on campus.

03

What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?

Coughing and expectoration for more than 2 weeks, hemoptysis or blood in sputum are the main symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, chest tightness, chest pain, low fever in the afternoon, night sweats, general weakness, loss of appetite or weight loss are also common symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis.

If any students experience the above symptoms, they should be aware that they may have tuberculosis and should go to a designated medical institution for tuberculosis for examination in a timely and proactive manner to ensure early detection and treatment.

04

What should you pay attention to if you have tuberculosis?

After being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, students should receive standardized treatment at designated medical institutions for tuberculosis and truthfully state their student identity and school information. At the same time, they should immediately report to their class teacher or the school clinic/hospital so that other students can be screened as soon as possible. Do not conceal your illness from the school and do not attend classes while sick. After standardized treatment and examination, students can return to school with a doctor's diagnosis certificate for returning to school after meeting the standards for returning to school.

In addition, during treatment, you should maintain a regular work and rest schedule, avoid staying up late, strengthen your diet and physical exercise, eat more protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, and milk, as well as vegetables and fruits, to enhance your body's immunity. Pay attention to personal hygiene, do not spit anywhere, and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Try to reduce going out, and wear a mask when you must go out.

05

How to prevent and control tuberculosis on campus?

The "Guidelines for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control in Chinese Schools (2020 Edition)" jointly issued by the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Education has formulated 9 core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in schools, covering the key points of tuberculosis prevention and control on campus. Let's learn together:

(1) Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that seriously endangers the health of the people over a long period of time.

(2) Tuberculosis is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract and anyone can be infected.

(3) If you have a cough and sputum for more than 2 weeks, you should suspect that you have tuberculosis and seek medical attention promptly.

(4) Do not spit anywhere, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and wear a mask to reduce the spread of tuberculosis.

(V) If suspected symptoms of tuberculosis appear or if a student is diagnosed with tuberculosis, he/she should proactively report to the school and should not conceal his/her illness or attend classes while ill.

(VI) When visiting a hospital for treatment, you should tell the doctor your true information truthfully.

(VII) With standardized and comprehensive treatment, the vast majority of pulmonary tuberculosis patients can be cured and avoid infecting others.

(8) Develop the habit of opening windows frequently for ventilation.

(IX) Ensure adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and increased physical exercise to enhance the ability to resist disease.

Let us protect our health together.

Welcome the new semester!