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Tuberculosis

 Tuberculosis


Overview

What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually attacks the

lungs, but it can also attack and damage any part of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, or spine. A person with TB can die

without treatment. 

Symptoms

Latent TB: A person with latent TB will have no symptoms, and no damage will show on a chest X-ray. However, a blood test or skin prick test will indicate that they have TB infection.

Active TB: An individual with TB disease may experience a cough that produces phlegm, fatigue, a fever, chills, and a loss of appetite and weight. Symptoms typically worsen over time, but they can also spontaneously go away and return.

Early warning signs

A person should see a doctor if they experienceTrusted Source:

a persistent cough, lasting at least 3 weeks

phlegm, which may have blood in it, when they cough

a loss of appetite and weight

a general feeling of fatigue and being unwell

swelling in the neck

a fever

night sweats

chest pain

Beyond the lungs

TB usually affects the lungs, though symptoms can develop in other parts of the body. This is more common in people with weakened immune systems.

Causes

M. tuberculosis bacteria cause TB. They can spread through the air in droplets when a person with pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, spits, laughs, or talks.

Only people with active TB can transmit the infection. However, most individuals with the disease can no longer transmit the bacteria after receiving appropriate treatment for at least 2 weeks.

TB can cause:

persistently swollen lymph nodes, or “swollen glands”

abdominal pain

joint or bone pain

confusion

a persistent headache

seizures

Diagnosis

A person with latent TB will have no symptoms, but the infection can show up on tests. People should ask for a TB test if they:

have spent time with someone who has or is at risk of TB

have spent time in a country with high rates of TB

work in an environment where TB may be present

A doctor will ask about any symptoms and the person’s medical history. They will also perform a physical examination, which involves listening to the lungs and checking for swelling in the lymph nodes.

Two tests can show whether TB bacteria are present:

the TB skin test

the TB blood test

However, these cannot indicate whether TB is active or latent. To test for active TB disease, the doctor may recommend a sputum test and a chest X-ray.

Everyone with TB needs treatment, regardless of whether the infection is active or latent.

Treatment

With early detection and appropriate antibiotics, TB is treatable.

The right type of antibiotic and length of treatment will depend on:

the person’s age and overall health

whether they have latent or active TB

the location of the infection

whether the strain of TB is drug resistant

Treatment for latent TB can vary.Trusted Source It may involve someone taking an antibiotic once a week for 12 weeks or every day for 9 months.

Treatment for active TB may involve taking several drugs for 6–9 monthsTrusted Source. When a person has a drug-resistant strain of TB, the treatment will be more complex.

It is essential for people to complete the full course of treatment, even if symptoms go away. If a person stops taking their medication early, some bacteria can survive and become resistant to antibiotics. In this case, the person may go on to develop drug-resistant TB.

TYPE OF DOCTOR AND DEPARTMENT: Infectious Diseases  SPECIALIST CAN DIGNOSES THIS DISEASE.

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