Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection, primarily in the lungs (a pneumonia), caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread usually from person to person by breathing infected air during close contact.

How does a person get TB?
A person can become infected with tuberculosis bacteria when he or she inhales minute particles of infected sputum from the air. The bacteria get into the air when someone who has a tuberculosis lung infection coughs, sneezes, shouts, or spits (which is common in some cultures). People who are nearby can then possibly breathe the bacteria into their lungs. You don't get TB by just touching the clothes or shaking the hands of someone who is infected. Tuberculosis is spread (transmitted) primarily from person to person by breathing infected air during close contact.

• Cough
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Loss of appetite

What organs are affected?

Tuberculosis usually attacks your lungs. Signs and symptoms of TB of the lungs include:

• Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing

Treatment

With treatment, the chances of full recovery are good. Although several treatment protocols for active TB are in wide use by specialists, and protocols sometimes change due to advanced in our understanding of optimal therapy, they generally share three principles: 

1.    The regimen must include several drugs to which the organisms are susceptible.

2.      The patient must take the medication on a regular basis.

3.      Therapy must continue for a sufficient time. 

Also, treatment recommendations are subject to change depending upon both the characteristics of the particular organism being treated and newer advances in therapeutic agents. Thus, consultation on treatment strategies with local public health and infectious disease experts is always advisable.

Isoniazid (INH) is one of the most common drugs used for TB. Inexpensive, effective and easy to take, it can prevent most cases of TB and, when used in conjunction with other drugs, cure most TB. INH preventive treatment is recommended for individuals who have:

• close contact with a person with infectious TB
• positive tuberculin skin test reaction and an abnormal chest x-ray that suggests inactive TB
• a tuberculin skin test that converted from negative to positive within the past two years
• a positive skin test reaction and a special medical condition (for example, AIDS or HIV infection or diabetes) or who are on corticosteroid therapy  
• a positive skin test reaction, even with none of the above risk factors (in those under 35

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Tuberculosis:

• Should a TB test be done?
• What medications will you prescribe?
• Is my case of TB contagious?
• What precautions can be taken to minimize the exposure to TB?
• Are there any lasting effects after treatment?

R. Y. Manabat, R.N.