September 2015

Tuberculosis cases in Galway students

Over the past year the Department of Public Health in HSE West has been investigating four cases of TB in NUI Galway and two cases in GMIT. As part of the usual investigations for TB, Public Health doctors have been testing contacts of the cases (family, friends, colleagues) and are working closely with both institutions.

This is a type of TB that responds to routine antibiotics, and all students are doing well.

Cases of TB occur in Ireland every year and treatments are available to people who are diagnosed with TB. In 2014 there were 328 cases across Ireland, and although the risk to other students and staff in this situation is low, people should be aware of the symptoms and seek advice if they develop symptoms.

Symptoms

Tuberculosis develops slowly in the body, and it may take months for symptoms to appear.

Any of the following may be a sign of TB:

• Fever and night sweats

• Cough for more than three weeks

• Losing weight

• Blood in your sputum (spit/phlegm)

If you develop these symptoms, it is important that you should contact your GP or the Department of Public Health in HSE West (091-775200). NUI Galway students can also contact the Student Health Unit (091-492604).

Can anyone get Tuberculosis?

Yes, anyone can get TB. However, you are at greater risk if you live in the same house as the person who is sick, or if you are in very close contact with them. Only a small number of people who breathe in the TB germ get sick. This can happen within a couple of months or many years later.

Latent Tuberculosis

When TB germs first enter your body, they cause latent TB infection. This means that the germs are ‘asleep’ in your body. If you do not have treatment, latent TB infection can become active TB disease.

Contacts have been identified who have developed latent TB. All are now on appropriate anti-TB antibiotics and are well. None of these people are considered infectious – that is, they cannot pass the infection onto other people.

Further information



Staff at the Department of Public Health continue to investigate and manage the situation. They will provide further information as it becomes available.

The University will keep students and staff up-to-date on the situation on this web page.

Further information on TB can be found here

Meán Fómhair 2015

Cásanna eitinne i measc mhic léinn na Gaillimhe

Le bliain anuas, tá an Rannóg Sláinte Poiblí in HSE an Iarthair ag déanamh iniúchadh ar cheithre chás eitinne a bhaineann le OÉ Gaillimh agus dhá chás a bhaineann le GMIT. Tá an fhoireann sa Rannóg Sláinte Poiblí ag déanamh tástálacha ar dhaoine a tháinig i dteagmháil leis an ngalar agus tá siad ag oibriú go dlúth leis an dá institiúid.

Oibríonn gnáth-antaibheathaigh go maith i gcoinne eitinne den chineál seo, agus tá na mic léinn ag déanamh go maith.

Tarlaíonn cásanna eitinne in Éirinn gach bliain agus tá leigheas ar fáil do dhaoine a mbíonn an tinneas orthu. In 2014, bhí 328 cás ar fud na hÉireann, agus cé gur beag an baol atá ann do mhic léinn eile agus don fhoireann sa chás seo, ba cheart go mbeadh daoine ar an eolas faoi na comharthaí a bhaineann le heitinn agus ba cheart dóibh comhairle a lorg má thugann siad na comharthaí faoi deara orthu féin.

Comharthaí a bhaineann le hEitinn

Forbraíonn eitinn go mall sa chorp, agus d'fhéadfadh sé go mbeadh roinnt míonna ann sula dtabharfaí na comharthaí faoi deara.

D'fhéadfadh aon cheann díobh seo a leanas a bheith ina gcomharthaí den eitinn:

• Fiabhras agus allas oíche

• Casacht ar feadh tréimhse níos faide ná trí seachtaine

• Cailleadh meáchain

• Fuil i do spútam (seile/réama)

Má bhíonn na comharthaí seo ort, tá sé tábhachtach teagmháil a dhéanamh le hAonad Sláinte na Mac Léinn (091-492604), leis an Rannóg Sláinte Poiblí in HSE an Iarthair (091-775200) nó le do dhochtúir áitiúil féin.

An féidir le duine ar bith Eitinn a tholg?

Is féidir le duine ar bith Eitinn a tholg. Ach tá tú i mbaol níos mó má tá cónaí ort i dteach le duine a bhfuil sé ag gabháil dó/di, nó má bhíonn dlúth-theagmháil agat leis an duine. As na daoine a análaíonn isteach an frídín eitinne, ní éiríonn ach roinnt bheag díobh sin tinn. Féadfaidh sé teacht orthu taobh istigh de chúpla mí nó roinnt mhaith blianta ina dhiaidh.

Eitinn follaigh

Nuair a théann frídíní eitinne isteach i do chorp ar dtús, cruthaíonn siad ionfhabhtú eitinne folaigh. Ciallaíonn sé seo go bhfuil na frídíní 'ina gcodladh' i do chorp. Mura gcuirtear cóireáil ort, féadfaidh an t-ionfhabhtú eitinne folaigh iompú isteach ina ghalar gníomhach eitinne.

Táthar tar éis teacht ar dhaoine a bhfuil an eitinn folaigh ag gabháil dóibh. Tá na daoine seo ar fad ar na hantaibheathaigh chuí fritheitinne agus tá siad ag déanamh go maith. Ní shamhlaítear aon duine díobh a bheith ionfhabhtaíoch – is é sin, ní féidir leo an galar a thabhairt do dhaoine eile.

Eolas Breise

Tá an fhoireann sa Rannóg Sláinte Poiblí fós ag iniúchadh agus ag bainistiú cúrsaí. Cuirfidh siad tuilleadh eolais ar fáil de réir mar a bhíonn teacht air.

Coinneoidh an Ollscoil mic léinn agus comhaltaí foirne ar an eolas ar an leathanach seo.

Tá níos mó eolais faoi eitinn ar fáil anseo