Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charge Syndrome

Overview CHARGE syndrome is a recognizable genetic syndrome with known pattern of features. It is an extremely complex syndrome, involving extensive medical and physical difficulties that differ from child to child. CHARGE syndrome is correlated with genetic mutation to CHD7 and the prevalence of CHARGE syndrome is 1:10,000-1:15,000 live births. Babies with CHARGE syndrome are often born with life-threatening birth defects. They spend many months in the hospital and undergo many surgeries and other treatments. Swallowing and breathing problems make life difficult even when they come home. Most have hearing two little girls sitting on a carpet, one girl has a trach and is biting her finger.loss, vision loss, and balance problems that delay their development and communication. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, children with CHARGE syndrome often far surpass their medical, physical, educational, and social expectations. One of the hidden features of CHARGE syndrome is the ...
7 comments
Read more

Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome Overview Sjogren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome is a disorder of your immune system identified by its two most common symptoms — dry eyes and a dry mouth. The condition often accompanies other immune system disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. In Sjogren's syndrome, the mucous membranes and moisture-secreting glands of your eyes and mouth are usually affected first — resulting in decreased tears and saliva. Although you can develop Sjogren's syndrome at any age, most people are older than 40 at the time of diagnosis. The condition is much more common in women. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Symptoms The two main symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome are: Dry eyes . Your eyes might burn, itch or feel gritty — as if there's sand in them. Dry mouth. Your mouth might feel like it's full of cotton, making it difficult to swallow or speak. Some people with Sjogren's syndrome also have one or more of the following: Joint pain, swel...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aarskog syndrome

  Aarskog syndrome is a very rare disease that affects a person's height, muscles, skeleton, genitals, and appearance. It can be passed down through families (inherited). Causes Aarskog syndrome is a genetic disorder that is linked to the X chromosome. It affects mainly males, but females may have a milder form. The condition is caused by changes (mutations) in a gene called "faciogenital dysplasia" (FGD1). Symptoms Symptoms of this condition include: Belly button that sticks out Bulge in the groin or scrotum Delayed sexual maturity Delayed teeth Downward palpebral slant to eyes (palpebral slant is the direction of the slant from the outer to inner corner of the eye) Hairline with a "widow's peak" Mildly sunken chest Mild to moderate mental problems Mild to moderate short height which may not be obvious until the child is 1 to 3 years old Poorly developed middle section of the face Rounded face Scrotum surrounds the penis (shawl scrotum) Short fingers and to...
Post a Comment
Read more