Can TB be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her child Yes, it is possible for a pregnant woman suffering from tuberculosis to transmit the disease to her child.

While there are many myths and facts surrounding this terrible disease, Dr NC Gowrishankar throws some light on what to believe and what not to.

While that is a worrying statistic, whats even more disturbing is the fact that our nation still suffers from low awareness on this dreaded disease.

So, what can you, as a parent, do to ensure your child remains protected If you are a parent whose child is suffering from TB, do not get stressed over it.

Apart from the medicine prescribed by the doctor, there are other ways to help your child recover fast.

ParentCircle interacted with Dr NC Gowrishankar, Deputy Head, Paediatrics at Dr Mehtas Childrens Hospital, Chennai, to understand in detail, the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and myths versus facts related to TB.

What is tuberculosis Tuberculosis is a severe bacterial infection that infects the lungs.

Sometimes, the other organs of the human body like the kidneys, spine or the brain can also get affected.

Primarily an airborne disease, TB in children can be fatal if not detected and treated early.

In children, TB can occur within the lungs in the form of pneumonia.

It can also occur outside the lungs, but inside the chest cavity, in the form of fluid accumulation or enlargement of lymph nodes.

In others, the TB germs multiply in the body at an active rate, causing tissue damage.

Often, tuberculosis can remain dormant in a person for many years.

Although not common, latent TB can develop into an active TB infection.

Uveitis, which is the most common ocular manifestation of TB, results in inflammation in the eye, produces swelling and causes redness.

If not diagnosed early and treated in time, uveitis can damage the eye.

Usually, a child becomes infected when she has repeated contact and exposure to the TB bacteria.

Few other factors may also play a part in the child contracting the disease.

For instance, poor ventilation that leads to accumulation of bacteria, the absence of sunlight and lack of proper medication, might lead to children becoming vulnerable to contracting TB.

Is TB contagious Tuberculosis is contagious, but the infection does not spread easily.

It is only with repeated and continuous exposure to a person with active TB bacteria that one can get infected with this disease.

TB does not spread through personal items such as clothing, utensils and bedding.

Should Kids Have Their Own Tb