TB definition

Cards (5)

  • Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB):
    • Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly involves the lungs, but may spread to other organs
    • TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis)
    • TB is transferred by breathing in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person
    • This initial infection is called primary TB
  • Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB):
    • Most people recover from primary TB infection without further evidence of the disease (95%)
    • In some cases, the disease may become active (symptomatic) within weeks after the primary infection (5%)
    • TB may stay non-active (dormant) in the lungs for years
    • In some people it can reactivate
    • Most people who develop symptoms of TB have been infected some time before
  • Reactivation of TB - The following people are at higher risk of active TB:
    • Elderly
    • Infants
    • People with weakened immune systems:
    • HIV
    • Chemotherapy
    • Anti-rejection medicines given after an organ transplant
  • Incidence of TB - The following factors may increase the rate of TB infection in a population:
    • Increase in HIV infections
    • Increase in number of homeless people (poor environment and nutrition)
    • The appearance of drug-resistant strains of TB
  • Symptoms of TB:
    • Primary TB doesn't usually cause symptoms
    • When symptoms of pulmonary TB occur, they may include
    • Productive or non-productive cough
    • Haemoptysis - coughing up blood
    • Night sweats
    • Fatigue
    • Fever
    • Unintentional weight loss
    • Other symptoms that may occur with TB
    • Breathlessness
    • Chest pain
    • Wheeze