Overview
Tuberculosis refers to tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. TB is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can be a serious and potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated.
Symptoms of TB include a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Diagnosis usually involves a combination of a physical exam, a skin test, a blood test, and imaging tests such as a chest X-ray.
TB is treatable with a combination of antibiotics, and treatment typically lasts for six to nine months. It is important to use all antibiotics to ensure that the infection completely eliminated. In some cases, drug-resistant strains of TB may require longer treatment with more potent antibiotics. TB is a preventable disease, precaution such as vaccination, good ventilation, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals can help reduce the risk.
Types
There are two main types of tuberculosis: latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis disease.
Latent TB infection means that a person has infected with the TB bacteria but does not have any symptoms of the disease and is not contagious. However, the bacteria can remain dormant in the body and may reactivate and cause active TB disease in the future, especially if the person’s immune system becomes weakened.
Active TB disease is when the TB bacteria are actively multiplying in the body, causing symptoms of the disease and making the person contagious. This type of TB can affect the lungs (pulmonary TB), as well as other parts of the body (extra pulmonary TB), such as the kidneys, bones, or brain.
TB can also be classified into drug-susceptible TB and drug-resistant TB. Drug-susceptible TB means that the TB bacteria may killed by the standard antibiotics used to treat TB. Drug-resistant TB, on the other hand, refers to strains of TB that are resistant to one or more of these standard antibiotics. There are two types of drug-resistant TB: multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which is resistant to at least two of the most effective TB drugs, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), which is resistant to both first-line and second-line TB drugs. Drug-resistant TB is more difficult to treat and requires longer and more complex treatment regimens.
Symptoms
The symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) can vary depending on the type and severity of the disease. Some people may not experience any symptoms, especially those with latent TB infection, while others may have more severe symptoms with active TB disease. Here are some common symptoms of TB:
- Persistent cough: This is the most common symptom of TB, and it usually lasts for more than three weeks. The cough may produce sputum or blood.
- Chest pain: Some people with TB may experience chest pain or discomfort while coughing or breathing.
- Fatigue: TB can cause fatigue and weakness, which may be accompanied by a lack of appetite and weight loss.
- Fever: A low-grade fever (less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit) is common with TB.
- Night sweats: Some people with TB experience excessive sweating at night, which can be severe enough to soak through clothes and bedding.
- Shortness of breath: In some cases, TB can cause difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
- Other symptoms: TB may also cause other symptoms depending on which part of the body it affects, such as bone, joint, abdominal or blood pain.
Causes
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is passed from person to person in the air, usually when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. When a person with active TB disease coughs or sneezes, they release tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air, and these droplets can be inhaled by others nearby.
However, not everybody exposed to TB is infected. A person’s risk of contracting TB depends on several factors, including the strength of their immune system, the duration of exposure, and the virulence (ability to cause disease) of the bacteria.
People who are more likely to contract TB include those with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or certain cancers, those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease, and those taking medications that suppress the immune system. TB is also more common in crowded or unsanitary conditions, such as in prisons, homeless shelters, and refugee camps.
Treatment
Tuberculosis (TB) is a treatable disease, and treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics taken for several months. The goal of treatment is to kill the bacteria that cause TB, and to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains of the disease.
The antibiotics used to treat TB include isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. In most cases, treatment involves taking a combination of these antibiotics for six to nine months. The length of treatment may be longer in cases of drug-resistant TB or when the TB infection is located outside the lungs.
It’s important to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if you start to feel better before you finish treatment. Stopping treatment early can allow the bacteria to survive and develop resistance to the antibiotics.
In addition to antibiotics, treatment for TB may also involve supportive care, such as addressing nutritional deficiencies, managing symptoms such as pain and fever, and providing psychological support.
If you have diagnosed with active TB disease, it’s important to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease to others. This may include staying home from work or school until you are no longer contagious, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with others. If you have latent TB infection, your healthcare provider may recommend treatment with antibiotics to prevent the development of active TB disease in the future. This is especially important for people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
