Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that has been known for a long time but remains hard to tackle. It primarily affects your lungs, but it can also involve other parts of your body such as your spine, brain or kidneys. Not everyone infected with TB becomes ill. If you have the infection but show no signs, doctors call it TB infection. TB lies dormant in your body for many years and becomes active when a person's immune system becomes weaker.

Symptoms of Tuberculosis

Active TB signs include:

Persistent cough (over two weeks) Pain in the chest Blood or mucus in cough Tiredness or lack of energy Reduced hunger Loss of weight Chills Fever Sweating at night If you have TB that's not active, you won't show signs. But your TB test might come back positive.

Causes of Tuberculosis

TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis organisms. These bacteria travel through the air. When you breathe them in, they can infect your lungs. Sometimes, they also spread to other body parts.

Types

Pulmonary tuberculosis: The most common form of TB affecting the lungs. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: When the bacteria affect other body parts, such as the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes Miliary tuberculosis: Tuberculosis bacteria have the potential to spread throughout your body and lead to: Meningitis Pott's disease or spinal tuberculosis or tuberculosis spondylitis Addison's disease Hepatitis Scrofula - enlarged lymph nodes in your neck

How does Tuberculosis Spread?

TB can spread when someone with active TB coughs, sneezes, talks or laughs. People with an active lung infection can pass on the disease.Most people who inhale TB bacteria can fight off the bacteria and prevent them from growing. This leads to a TB infection.

Risk Factors

You might have a higher risk of TB exposure if you: Live or work in group settings where TB can spread such as prisons, hospices, nursing homes, shelters and other healthcare facilities Have a job in a lab that studies mycobacteria Have spent time in an area where TB is widespread, including India, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia Have been around someone who's known to have TB You might face a higher chance of getting active TB if you: Put illegal drugs into your veins Have a young, damaged or weak immune system (this includes newborns and kids) Have illness such as chronic kidney disease,diabetes Organ Transplantation Are getting cancer treatment

Diagnosis

After reviewing clinical symptoms, doctors use the following to check for TB: Tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test): Doctors inject a small amount under the skin to see if the immune system reacts to TB bacteria. Blood tests (IGRA): These look at the immune system response to TB bacteria. Chest X-ray or CT scan: Doctors use these scans to spot lung damage or areas affected by TB. Sputum tests: Lab tests check mucus samples to find TB bacteria using smear microscopy, culture methods, or molecular tests

Treatment of Tuberculosis

Doctors treat both active and dormant tuberculosis with special antibiotics. They give you a combination of medications to treat the infection. These are: First-line drugs: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol for the first 2 months Continuation phase: Isoniazid and Rifampicin for an additional 4 months You need to take these medications for several months. Finish your entire prescription without fail.

Recovery time

You might feel more energetic and have fewer symptoms within a few weeks after starting treatment. But you will need more time to complete it. Take your medications for six months.

Prevention

You can lower your chances of getting & spreading TB by: Washing your hands well and often Coughing into your elbow or covering your mouth when you cough Staying away from close contact with others Taking all your meds as prescribed Not going back to work or school until your doctor says it's okay In hospitals good air flow and the use of protective gear are key to stopping TB from spreading.