Dr Kwaku Annin Karikari, Deputy Western Regional Director of Health Services, has urged people coughing continuously for two weeks or more to seek medical examination to determine whether or not they have tuberculosis (TB).
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Takoradi, Dr Karikari said the disease is contagious and should be treated early to reduce mortality.
He said the disease is curable and only 10 per cent of people affected by the virus develop the disease which is spread through the air while the remaining 90 per cent do not show any symptoms.
Dr. Karikari said the development of the disease could take weeks, months or years after infection and it is one of the opportunistic infections of HIV/AIDS, adding those at risk of
contracting the disease are diabetics, HIV persons, malnourished children, as well as alcoholics.
He said loss of appetite, fever, feeling of tiredness and coughing up blood are some of the symptoms and signs of TB.
Dr. Karikari said treatment of the disease takes six to eight months to be completed and urged the media to work with the Ghana Health Service to educate the public about the disease.