Tuberculosis

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria which affects lungs and may spread to other areas in the body like brain and spinal cord.

Types of tuberculosis:

1- Latent TB.
2- Active TB.

Symptoms of tuberculosis:

1- The latent form of TB has no symptoms.

2- The Active TB symptoms are:

Severe cough that lasts for a long time more than 3 weeks.
Bloody cough in some cases.
Chest pain.
Feeling physically exhausted and tired all the time.
High temperature and fever.
Sweating, especially at night, and chills in the body.
Loss of appetite, which causes weight loss.

Transmission of tuberculosis:

1- Tuberculosis can be transmitted by direct contact with an infected person during talking, sneezing and coughing, the small particles when entered the healthy person’s body, he might be infected.

2- Tuberculosis can be transmitted by indirect contact when using patient tools.

3- Smoking shisha.

Risk Factors of TB:

1- Contact for a long period with an infected person at home or in work.

2- Smokers specially shisha smokers.

3- The areas with high rates of TB like: South Africa and russia.

4- Doctors and nurses who are treating TB patients and their families.

5- Veterinary doctors because TB is one of the common diseases between humans and animals.

Diagnosis of tuberculosis:

1- Skin Test.

2- Blood test.

Prevention of TB:

1- Take care while talking, coughing or sneezing if you are an infected person.

2- Wear a face mask if you are infected or have an infected family member at home.

3- Avoid crowding areas if you live or have travelled to an area where TB is common.

Tuberculosis vaccine:

BCG is the tuberculosis vaccine which is given to children in some countries like the United States if one of their patients is infected or has a TB drug resistance.

Treatment of tuberculosis:

Some antibiotics are used for the treatment of TB under doctors prescription for several months such as: isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/lung/understanding-tuberculosis-basics

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis

Tuberculosis Disease

Tuberculosis

What is tuberculosis?

Types of tuberculosis: