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Respiratory
Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB)
TB definition
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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