Treatment and cure

When a doctor sends urine, pus, sputum, blood or skin scrapings to the microbiology lab, a handful of basic techniques do most of the work: sterilisation with the autoclave , Gram staining , the KOH mount for fungi, culture and sensitivity testing, and quick biochemical tests such as the oxidase test . This guide explains the principle, basic procedure and interpretation of each, for students, lab technicians and curious patients. Quick answer: An autoclave sterilises equipment and media with pressurised steam, typically 121°C at 15 psi for 15 to 20 minutes. Gram staining sorts bacteria into Gram-positive (purple) and Gram-negative (pink). A 10% KOH mount dissolves skin and nail keratin so fungal threads can be seen. Culture grows the organism from a sample, and sensitivity testing shows which antibiotics will work, usually within 48 to 72 hours. The oxidase test turns purple within seconds for bacteria such as Pseudomonas , Neisseria and Vibrio . Key takeaways ✅ Collect sa...

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the immune system's CD4 cells. Without treatment it slowly weakens the body's defences until serious infections and cancers develop, the stage called AIDS . Today HIV is a manageable long-term condition: with daily treatment, people with HIV can live a normal lifespan, and once the virus is fully suppressed they do not pass it on through sex. In India, testing and treatment are free through the National AIDS Control Programme. Quick answer: HIV often causes no symptoms for years, so the only way to know is a blood test. Some people get a flu-like illness 2 to 4 weeks after infection. Modern tests detect most infections within about 6 weeks, and a repeat test at 3 months confirms a negative result. HIV is prevented by condoms, never sharing needles, testing in pregnancy, and emergency medicine (PEP) started within 72 hours of an exposure. Treatment (ART) is free and lifelong in India. Key takeaways ✅ Get tested if you have eve...

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis . It most often affects the lungs but can involve almost any part of the body. India carries about a quarter of the world's TB cases, according to the WHO Global TB Report 2025, yet TB is curable: most people recover completely with a six-month course of medicines, which are free under India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). Quick answer: A cough lasting two weeks or more, especially with fever, night sweats, weight loss or blood in the sputum, should be tested for TB. The main tests are a sputum molecular test (such as CBNAAT or Truenat), which also checks for drug resistance, and a chest X-ray. Ordinary TB is treated for six months with a combination of four medicines at first, then three. Taking every dose until the end is what cures TB and prevents drug-resistant TB. Key takeaways ✅ Testing and treatment are free at government health centres and designated private facili...

Malaria is a fever caused by Plasmodium parasites that spread through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. It is fully curable when it is confirmed early with a blood test and treated with the right medicines, but it can turn serious within a day or two, especially in children and pregnant women. This guide explains the symptoms, which tests confirm it, how it is treated in India, and when a fever needs urgent care. Quick answer: Any fever in or after a stay in a malaria area should be tested the same day with a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or a blood smear under the microscope. Symptoms usually start 7 to 30 days after the bite and include fever with chills, sweating, headache and body ache. Treatment depends on the species: P. vivax needs a medicine to clear the blood plus a 14-day course to prevent relapse, and P. falciparum needs an artemisinin-based combination. Confusion, fits, breathlessness, dark urine or repeated vomiting mean hospital care now. Key tak...