TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis:
 Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease that
primarily affects the lung parenchyma.
It also may be transmitted to the other parts of the
body including the meninges; kidney; bones and
lymph nodes.

ETIOLOGY:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (most common)
Mycobacterium bovis (rare)
Mycobacterium africanum
SYMPTOMS:

Latent TB: No symptoms

Active TB: Symptomatic & can spread to others.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
• Coughing for three or more weeks
• Coughing up blood or mucus
• Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:
DIAGNOSIS:
There are two common tests for tuberculosis:
 Skin test. This is also known as the Mantoux tuberculin skin test.
A technician injects 0.1 ml of tuberculin PPD into the skin of lower arm.
After 2 or 3 days, they’ll check for swelling in your arm.
Normal (negative results):
• No firm bump forms at the test site, or a bump forms that is smaller than 5mm.
Abnormal (positive results):
• A firm bump that is 5mm in size shows a TB infection in people who are in a high-
risk group.
• A firm bump that is 10mm in size shows a TB infection in people who are in a
moderate-risk group.
• A firm bump that is 15mm in size shows a TB infection in people who are in a low-
risk group.
 Blood test. These tests, also called interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs),
measure the response when TB proteins are mixed with a small amount of your
blood.
Other test:
A chest X-ray or CT scan to look for changes in
your lungs
Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) tests for TB bacteria in
your sputum, the mucus that comes up when you
cough