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Tuberculosis (TB) Pulmonary & Respiratory
Tuberculosis (TB) Pulmonary & Respiratory
by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023
Additional names
This group contains additional names: - Phthisis
General
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that passes through the air. When it affects the lungs, it is called pulmonary tuberculosis and can cause chest pain, coughing and other symptoms. A person who carries the bacteria but does not develop symptoms is called latent TB. Latent TB is not contagious, but it can develop into active TB, especially when the person becomes immunocompromised. Many people with latent TB, though, will never develop the active disease.
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Signs & symptoms
Symptoms of tuberculosis may be hard to identify because they are not specific. They may include a bad cough that lasts at least 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing with blood, breathlessness, fever, chills, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes,and weakness.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in culture or by identification of its DNA. Tuberculin skin test or the Mantoux test can detect an infection, as well as interferon-gamma release assay that can quantify its response to the antigens. Samples may be taken from the blood or sputum. If a test is positive for TB, a chest X-ray or a CT scan may be done to show changes that have to do with the infection.
Treatment
Tuberculosis is treated like regular pulmonary TB- with 4 drugs (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol) for 6 months. Sometimes, a longer treatment may be required either because of coinfection with HIV or kidney abscess. For multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) infection, the treatment is with fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and other drugs for 18 to 24 months.
Note
☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike
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