Tuberculosis

It is an acute or chronic infectious disease of the lungs but can also affect other
parts of the body including bones joints and brains. It is characterized by
pulmonary infiltrate and by the formation of granulomas with caseation,
fibrosis and cavitation
Causative organism
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Not everyone who is infected with the TB bacteria develops the disease. These
people may not feel ill and may have no symptoms. They do not also spread
the infection to others. Their immune system walls off the tuberculosis bacilli
which, protected by a thick waxy coat can lie dormant for years.

Incubation period
From infection to demonstrable lesion, about 4 to 12 weeks
(3months); to progressive pulmonary or extra pulmonary tuberculosis may be
years.
Incidence
It is twice as common in men than in women. It is highest in people who live in
crowded, poorly ventilated, unsanitary conditions such as in prisons. Also
common in people who are immune compromised such as in HIV infected
individuals.
Mode of transmission
Droplet infection, when an infected person coughs, sneezes, laughs, talk or spit.
Individuals at risk
People in contact with an infected person
Individuals who have had TB before

 People with multiple sexual partners

Drug and alcohol abusers
Patients in mental institutions
Those receiving immunosuppressants and
corticosteroids
Forms
Pulmonary tuberculosis which affects the lungs and very
common
Extra pulmonary tuberculosis: this is less common and
affects the spine, lymph nodes, brain and meninges,
kidneys, intestines, etc.

signs and symptoms

Mucopurulent cough or blood stained sputum
Cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks
Chest pain
Weakness
fatigue
Mild /low grade fever
Loss of weight
Loss of appetite chest pain
Evening or night sweats

diagnosis
Chest x-ray
Sputum culture and sensitivity test
Tuberculin test( indicates that patient have been infected with TB at
some point but does not indicate active disease)
Full blood count.
Management
They are placed on four drug regimen. These are
Isoniazid
Ethambutol
Rifampicin
Pyrazinamide

prevention