tuberculosis
Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease that often affects the lung, and can also infect other parts of the body. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis) is transmitted by air. When mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted to the air through sneezing, coughing, talking, or laughing, someone inhales this air and increases the chance of infection. Tuberculosis.
It is important to distinguish between infection with tuberculosis, or latent tuberculosis, and the incidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis. For tuberculosis, TB germs are present in the body, but the immune system protects the body from the virus and protects it from infection. For active tuberculosis, the person has the disease, can spread the infection to other people, and should see the doctor as soon as possible.
Symptoms of tuberculosis
It is important to note that the person who is infected with tuberculosis or so-called latent tuberculosis does not show any symptoms, and for people who have active tuberculosis, they may have symptoms, and may be completely healthy, or may suffer from cough only from time to time, and the following Symptoms associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis which either appear together, or one of which:
- It is very important to check with a specialist to diagnose the condition. These symptoms may be associated with other diseases. The incubation period varies from 2 weeks to 12 weeks, and the person may remain a contagious carrier as long as TB bacteria are present in his phlegm or until he receives appropriate treatment.
Causes of tuberculosis
TB is different in TB patients. The disease may develop shortly after the infection, before the body’s immune system attacks the TB-causing bacteria, and may appear years after the infection, when there is a cause that can weaken the immune system in the body. In general, people with a high risk of TB can be grouped into two groups:
- People who have been exposed to tuberculosis in the near future: such as people who are in close contact with people with TB, migrants from areas with a high incidence of tuberculosis, and children under the age of five who show a positive result of TB testing, and groups exposed to high-speed tuberculosis such as displaced persons Drug users, individuals working or residing in an environment with high exposure to tuberculosis, such as hospital staff and others.
- People with certain health conditions that cause immune impairment such as those with immunodeficiency disease, silicosis, diabetes, and severe kidney disease (Severe Kidney Disease) , People with low weight, those with head and neck cancer, people who have been transplanted, people taking corticosteroid medications, some medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s Disease.
Diagnostic tests for tuberculosis
The TB skin test and TB blood tests are a diagnostic test for tuberculosis. We can test if the result of the test is positive if the person has been infected with TB infection only and can not Find out if the person has underlying TB, or that it develops to stage TB. Other tests are also used to determine the presence of TB, such as Chest X-ray, or a sample of sputum.
Treatment of tuberculosis
In general, a combination of four combined drugs is used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It is reduced according to the instructions of the specialist doctor. According to the TB infection, two months after starting treatment two types of treatment are continued for an additional four months. The treatment may last up to six months, depending on the patient’s response to the medication, according to the results of the tests and the agriculture.
The presence of TB bacteria in people infected with the disease is monitored and examined on a weekly basis until the test results, in addition to monitoring liver enzymes, creatinine, complete blood count, and other tests to prevent drug poisoning. It is very important to isolate TB patients in private rooms, where the air pressure is negative, that is to move the air outside or be removed by special air filters of high efficiency, and must continue to isolate until the result of phlegm examination negative three consecutive tests , Usually after two to four weeks of treatment, and the medical team must wear special, potentially destructive masks after use and are highly efficient in air purification.
Complications of tuberculosis
After termination of proper and proper treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, the patient remains vulnerable to complications, such as tuberculosis, which usually occur within two years of termination. There is an opportunity for other complications such as Aspergilloma, a fungal growth of the lung that is shown by radiological images of the chest. Bronchiectasis, Broncholithiasis, Fibrothorax, and the possibility of cancerous tumors can occur, so it is very important to give the patient a copy of the chest radiograph at the end of treatment to facilitate the diagnosis of complications. Which may occur.