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Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis symptom, treatment, causes

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused in humans by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (also called the tubercle bacillus), which brings about slow, progressive, destructive inflammation of tissues, mostly in the lungs. Tuberculosis is caught by breathing airborne droplets contaminated by coughing or sputum from infected lungs. The disease begins and usually stays in the lungs and nearby lymph glands, but can spread via the blood to other parts - mainly the kidneys, bones, bowel, other lymph glands, fallopian tubes and meninges (membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). In the past, Tuberculosis (especially in children) was acquired by drinking milk from infected cows, but this no longer occurs in countries where Tuberculosis has been eradicated from dairy herds and all milk is pasteurised.

Tuberculosis (popularly known as "TB") is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs, but it can spread to the kidneys, bones, spine, brain and other parts of the body. When people with TB in their lungs or throat cough, laugh, sneeze, sing, or even talk, the germs that cause TB may be spread into the air. If another person breathes in these germs there is a chance that they will become infected with tuberculosis. Repeated contact is usually required for infection. It may take many years before someone infected with TB develops the full disease. TB worldwide is a massive problem. In England cases fell progressively until the mid-1980s but started to rise again in the early 1990s. Cases have increased by 25% in the last 10 years. Around 6,500 cases are now reported each year. TB is curable with a course of special antibiotics taken for at least 6 months. The most important part of controlling TB is identifying and treating those who already have the disease, to shorten their infection and to stop it being passed on to others.

Tuberculosis used to be a major cause of long-term illness and death throughout the world. With improved living standards in the 20th century, and the development of specific treatment around 1950. the disease became rare in developed countries, but there has been a recent increase in the number of cases, mainly in people with IMMUNO DEFICIENCY (especially AIDS sufferers). In countries where people are weakened by malnutrition, poor hygiene and over crowding, Tuberculosis has remained prevalent.

The first phase of the infection usually lasts for several months. During this time the immune system resists the infection by killing most or all of the tubercle bacilli. A fibrous capsule develops around the inflamed area, walling it in. In most healthy people the disease goes no further, leaving only a small scar at the site of infection (usually the upper part of one lung) and a positive skin test for tuberculosis (the tuberculin test). However, in people who have or develop immunodeficiency, the tubercle bacilli may multiply, breaking out of their capsule to cause further tissue destruction around the site of initial infection and perhaps spreading to other tissues. This is the secondary or reactivated stage of tuberculosis, sometimes called consumption.

Causes of Tuberculosis

The common Causes of Tuberculosis :

• Smoking.
• Dietic errors.
• Loss of sleep.
• Mental stress and strain.
• Low body resistance.
• Unhealthy living style.
• Living in stuffy rooms.
• Alcohol.
• Exposure to cold.

Symptom and Complication of Tuberculosis

At first tuberculosis usually causes no symptoms. Secondary tuberculosis in the lungs (pulmonary tuberculosis) causes cough, bloodstained sputum, chest pain. recurring bouts of fever, weight loss and, as more and more lung tissue is destroyed, progressive shortness of breath. Complications include PNEUMOTHORAX and PLEURALEFFUSION. Some common Symptoms of Tuberculosis :

• Loss of strength.
• Blood in the sputum.
• Cough.
• Poor appetite.
• Loss of weight
• Pain in the chest.
• Fever.
• Body ache.
• Night sweats.
• Difficulty in breathing.

Symptoms of active Tuberculosis in tissues other than the lungs are these of persistent inflammation and disturbed function of the part. Thberculous meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain) is a dangerous development. leading to high fever, severe headache, vomiting, and drowsiness for lowed by stupor and coma. Miliary tuberculosis occurs when large numbers of the bacteria spread through the bloodstream to cause small abscesses in many parts of the body.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis

If Tuberculosis is suspected fiom the symptoms, signs and chest X-rays, the diagnosis can be confirmed by finding M. tuberculosis in sputum, samples of fluid taken from the lungs or other body fluids, or in biopsy specimens from enlarged lymph glands. Modem drug treatment is very effective against tuberculosis but must be continued for at least 8 months, and sometimes for more than a year. In general. a combination of at least two antibacterial drugs is used to avoid the development of resistance.

• Rifampin.
• Pyrazinamide.
• Isoniazid (INH).
• Ethambutol.
• Streptomycin.