|
|
What is Tuberculosis? |
| | | | |
Symptoms
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection which targets the lungs. This is a very common condition, with a third of the global population carrying it, and a new case adding up to the statistic with every second. But even if the body carries the bacteria which causes tuberculosis, the immune system is resilient enough to keep the person from being sick; as such, the condition is recognized as either latent or active. The former shows no indications and is non-communicable, while the latter may be highly contagious but asymptomatic. The bacteria primarily invade the lungs, and coughs are only the initial indication of an infection. This can lead to more symptoms, including an abnormal weight loss, feebleness, a mild fever, and chills; a decrease in appetite, night sweating, and painful coughing which expels phlegm.
Causes
The organism which causes the condition (mycobacterium tuberculosis) propagates in minute droplets which are ejected into the air, whenever a person carrying an active form of the infection talks, sneezes, or coughs. Although it is highly-contagious, obtaining the infection entails delicate conditions: you have to maintain contact with an afflicted person for the bacteria to be successfully transmitted. As such, contracting it from a relative or a co-worker is more common than from a complete stranger at a diner. In rare cases, pregnant women may pass an active tubercular strain into the unborn child. Once the strain enters the lungs, the body’s immune system ‘waits’ for up to two months before dealing with it. If this measure fails, the bacteria feed on the special antibodies which were released to eat them up; these eventually multiply and form crusty nodules within the air sacs.
Diagnosis
A skin test is the usual first diagnostic procedure, particularly the Mantoux test, wherein a small amount of PPD tuberculin is introduced underneath the skin of the forearm. Depending on the body’s response to the injection, the patient is diagnosed as either positive or negative for tuberculosis (a positive response is indicated by a stiff bump at the injected area). There is also a recently-developed blood testing technique which detects the presence of bacteria within the day (QuantiFERON-TB Gold), though it is presently unavailable in most countries. If a person tests positive, additional tests may be performed in order to ascertain if the condition is active. A chest X-ray may be conducted, or cultured samples of sputum may be taken and examined for the presence of the tubercular strain.
Treatment Info
Treatment is prolonged regardless of whether the patient has a TB infection or an active TB disease. If the patient bears the former, the doctor may advise a preventive medication program for eradicating latent bacteria (which tend to become active eventually), such as a daily intake dose of isoniazid; this regimen usually lasts for up to nine months. Since prolonged intake can result in liver failure, the treatment will be closely monitored. Active TB disease may be treated with four drugs; isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and rifampin. These are taken at varying lengths of treatment, but the number of medications is normally reduced within several months.
| | | |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
