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Francis Elias Palma.
Francis suffers from tuberculosis to the lungs and to the spine.
Francis had lived for several weeks on the streets of Stoke Newington playing his flute to earn money before he was admitted to Homerton University Hospital in Hackney feeling ill and coughing a lot. He was diagnosed with diabetes and subsequently tuberculosis in the lungs and was kept in hospital for 4 weeks before he was released and moved into temporary accommodation provided for by the TB unit's social services. In mid November 2011 Francis commenced a rigorous daily DOT treatment( Directly Observed Treatment) making his way into Homerton University Hospital's TB Department every day to take his up to 11 TB tablets, a carefully prescribed concoction of various antibiotics and vitamins. Even though Francis took his medicine as prescribed he started to feel more and more pain in his back, a pain which eventually became chronic and at time disabling. Francis was readmitted to Homerton University Hospital shortly before Christmas 2011 and it was discovered that he was suffering not only from TB to the lungs but also to his spine. It was decided that to operate was too risky, the TB was very near his spine and any mistakes could potentially paralyse him for life or let out the TB bacillus. The TB bacillus is highly infectious and to cut it open could be a risk not only to Francis. With the help of steroids and carefully managed painkillers Francis was able to overcome the worst pain and is now in good recovery after being prescribed a redefined mix of TB drugs. He was discharged early January and is now back in his temporary accommodation in Hackney North following his DOT. He hopes to be through his treatment by the end of the year 2012, a year after he was first diagnosed.
"In 2011, over 3500 cases of tuberculosis were reported among London residents, a rate of 44.9 per 100,000 population and the largest proportion of cases (39%) in the UK: numbers and rates remain high but stable compared to recent years." (Health Protection Agency 2011)
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB in the lungs) is the most common form of TB and highly infectious if untreated and can lead to death. More than 400 people die every year in the UK of TB. TB is treatable but the treatment requires a rigorous regime of multiple antibiotics for often up to a year. Tuberculosis can develop in any part of the body and will need treatment but is not infections. Multidrug resistant TB is becoming more and more common and poses a serious health threat across the world.
London Borough of Hackney and the neighbouring boroughs Tower Hamlets and Eastham are some of the poorest boroughs in the UK and have some of the highest numbers of cases of tuberculosis.
45 imagesShamsher,Alyahtin,Rachel,Ian,Stevi and Mik - all current or past tb sufferers. "In 2011, over 3500 cases of tuberculosis were reported among London residents, a rate of 44.9 per 100,000 population and the largest proportion of cases (39%) in the UK: numbers and rates remain high but stable compared to recent years." (Health Protection Agency 2011) Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB in the lungs) is the most common form of TB and highly infectious if untreated and can lead to death. More than 400 people die every year in the UK of TB. TB is treatable but the treatment requires a rigorous regime of multiple antibiotics for often up to a year. Tuberculosis can develop in any part of the body and will need treatment but is not infections. Multidrug resistant TB is becoming more and more common and poses a serious health threat across the world. London Borough of Hackney and the neighbouring boroughs Tower Hamlets and Eastham are some of the poorest boroughs in the UK and have some of the highest numbers of cases of tuberculosis.
30 imagesFrancis Elias Palma. Francis suffers from tuberculosis to the lungs and to the spine. Francis had lived for several weeks on the streets of Stoke Newington playing his flute to earn money before he was admitted to Homerton University Hospital in Hackney feeling ill and coughing a lot. He was diagnosed with diabetes and subsequently tuberculosis in the lungs and was kept in hospital for 4 weeks before he was released and moved into temporary accommodation provided for by the TB unit's social services. In mid November 2011 Francis commenced a rigorous daily DOT treatment( Directly Observed Treatment) making his way into Homerton University Hospital's TB Department every day to take his up to 11 TB tablets, a carefully prescribed concoction of various antibiotics and vitamins. Even though Francis took his medicine as prescribed he started to feel more and more pain in his back, a pain which eventually became chronic and at time disabling. Francis was readmitted to Homerton University Hospital shortly before Christmas 2011 and it was discovered that he was suffering not only from TB to the lungs but also to his spine. It was decided that to operate was too risky, the TB was very near his spine and any mistakes could potentially paralyse him for life or let out the TB bacillus. The TB bacillus is highly infectious and to cut it open could be a risk not only to Francis. With the help of steroids and carefully managed painkillers Francis was able to overcome the worst pain and is now in good recovery after being prescribed a redefined mix of TB drugs. He was discharged early January and is now back in his temporary accommodation in Hackney North following his DOT. He hopes to be through his treatment by the end of the year 2012, a year after he was first diagnosed. "In 2011, over 3500 cases of tuberculosis were reported among London residents, a rate of 44.9 per 100,000 population and the largest proportion of cases (39%) in the UK: numbers and rates remain high but stable compared to recent years." (Health Protection Agency 2011) Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB in the lungs) is the most common form of TB and highly infectious if untreated and can lead to death. More than 400 people die every year in the UK of TB. TB is treatable but the treatment requires a rigorous regime of multiple antibiotics for often up to a year. Tuberculosis can develop in any part of the body and will need treatment but is not infections. Multidrug resistant TB is becoming more and more common and poses a serious health threat across the world. London Borough of Hackney and the neighbouring boroughs Tower Hamlets and Eastham are some of the poorest boroughs in the UK and have some of the highest numbers of cases of tuberculosis.
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