TUBERCULOSIS— Causes, Signs& Symptoms and Treatment

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases responsible for millions of deaths annually across the world. In this article a general overview of Tuberculosis and its causes, signs and symptoms and treatment is present.

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient human disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis which mainly affects the lungs, making pulmonary disease the most common presentation.However, TB is a multi-systemic disease with a protean presentation. The organ system most commonly affected include the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal (GI) system, the lymphoreticular system, the skin, the central nervous system, the musculoskeletal system, the reproductive system, and the liver.

CAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that spread through the air, just like a cold or the flu. You can get TB only if you come into contact with people who have it.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF TUBERCULOSIS

Early warning signs:

A person should see a doctor if they experience;

•a persistent cough, lasting at least 3 weeks

phlegm, which may have blood in it, when they cough

•a loss of appetite and weight

•a general feeling of fatigue and being unwell

•swelling in the neck

•a fever

•night sweats

•chest pain

Symptoms

•Latent TB: A person with latent TB will have no symptoms, and no damage will show on a chest X-ray. However, a blood test or skin prick test will indicate that they have TB infection.

•Active TB: A person with TB disease may experience a cough that produces phlegm, fatigue, a fever, chills, and a loss of appetite and weight. Symptoms typically worsen over time, but they can also spontaneously go away and return.

•Beyond the lungs:TB usually affects the lungs, though symptoms can develop in other parts of the body. This is more common in people with weakened immune systems.

TB can cause:

•persistently swollen lymph nodes, or “swollen glands”

•abdominal pain

•joint or bone pain

•confusion

•a persistent headache

•seizures

TREATMENT

While the disease is still a cause of death in many parts of the world, TB is almost always able to be treated and cured in many parts of the world as well. But it requires careful adherence to the instructions on how to take medication, in order to eliminate all the bacteria and avoid developing drug resistance.

TB bacteria takes a long time to be killed off, so treatment can last for six months or longer. People with latent TB will probably only need to take one or two drugs, while those with active TB may need a combination of three to four.

The most commonly used drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis are:

1.Nydrazid (isoniazid)

2.Rifadin (rifampin)

3.Pyrazinamide

4.Myambutol (ethambutol)

• Remembering to take medicine for such a long period of time is quite difficult. One of the biggest worries during TB treatment is people stopping their medication before all the bacteria dies. The leftover bacteria can continue to grow and become resistant to antibiotics. This makes the disease much more dangerous and harder to treat.
• Active TB is contagious, making it a public health concern. For that reason, directly observed therapy (DOT) is used to make sure a person is taking their medicine. DOT means a trained healthcare worker provides each dose of medication, watches the patient swallow it, and documents that the medication has been taken.

By Tehreem Siddiqui ( student of Bs hons physiology, University of Karachi)