Your friend has been feeling unwell for a while and has had severe cough for a few weeks. When you visited, you discovered that he was weak, had lost weight, had fever, and was experiencing chest pain. A routine diagnostic test and a visit to the doctor indicated the presence of tuberculosis-causing bacteria.
Your friend may only be a carrier of the disease-causing organisms rather than actively experiencing the symptoms of the illness. It is possible to treat the infection with consistent medication and examinations.
About tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB), is a contagious disease that is primarily airborne, chronic, and affects the lungs. Additionally, tuberculosis (TB) can spread to the kidney, brain, or bones. It is critical to recognize the distinction between tuberculosis infection and disease. An infected person possesses the bacteria or germs, but they do not show any symptoms of illness. We call this latent or inactive tuberculosis. An individual afflicted with the illness is contagious and can infect others. We call this active tuberculosis. When a person with active TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, they can spread the infection to another person.
Despite advancements in treatment, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major cause of illness and mortality worldwide, particularly in Asia and Africa, and a severe public health concern. An estimated 2 billion people, or one-third of the world’s population, are thought to be latently infected with tuberculosis (TB), which claims the lives of nearly 2 million people annually. Approximately 1.7 million deaths were reported in 2009, with Africa reporting the highest number.
Symptoms
Latent tuberculosis is not transmissible because the bacteria stay dormant in the body and do not show any symptoms.
In active TB, symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever and chills
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
When the lungs are affected, symptoms include:
- Chronic cough lasting several weeks
- Coughing up blood or mucus
- Chest pain
Occasionally, a person with the condition may experience no symptoms at all or enter a state of remission, which is a decrease and cessation of symptoms. The symptoms of tuberculosis vary depending on which organ is impacted when it spreads to other parts of the body. Back pain can be caused by tuberculosis (TB) of the spine, blood in the urine can be caused by TB of the kidney or bladder, and headache and nausea can be symptoms of TB of the brain.
Risk factors
If a person has recently been exposed to a bacterial infection or if they have a medical condition that compromises their immune system, they are more likely to develop tuberculosis (TB) disease. Exposure to the bacteria can occur from working in places like prisons, shelters, old age homes, where there is overcrowding or inadequate ventilation, or from coming into close contact with someone who has active tuberculosis.
The risk of contracting the illness is further increased by malnutrition and a lack of medical attention. Though certain pre-existing conditions like HIV infection, diabetes, and lung cancer weaken the immune system and increase the risk of contracting the disease, a healthy immune system can successfully defend the body from infection. Other factors that could weaken the immune system are as follows:
- Substance abuse
- Severe kidney disease
- Organ transplant
- Low body weight
- Head and neck cancer
- Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
Diagnosis
Blood tests and skin tests are common diagnostic procedures. The purified protein derivative, or PPD, is injected just below the skin of the inside forearm in the skin test, also referred to as the Mantoux test. Any reaction or swelling at the injection site, manifested as an elevated, hard red bump known as an induration, after 48 to 72 hours is positive and suggests a tuberculosis infection. The skin test isn’t always reliable and can produce false-positive results, particularly if another kind of mycobacterium is present or if the patient has recently received the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. Moreover, as observed in children, the elderly, or those living with AIDS can attest, there are instances in which an infected person does not respond to the skin test or responds slowly.
A positive TB skin test does not indicate the presence of latent or active TB; rather, it only indicates that a person has been exposed to the bacteria. This will be ascertained with a sputum sample and a chest X-ray. A latent infection is indicated by an X-ray with white spots in the lungs (walled off TB bacteria), whereas active TB is indicated by nodules or cavities in the lungs. Sputum samples are collected for culture tests, which detect the disease as well.
To verify or rule out latent or active tuberculosis, blood tests are performed. This is a measurement of the immune system’s response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results can be obtained in 24 to 48 hours, and blood draws only need one visit. When there is a higher risk of infection, blood tests are more useful and accurate than skin tests.
To verify or rule out latent or active tuberculosis, blood tests are performed. This is a measurement of the immune system’s response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results can be obtained in 24 to 48 hours, and only one visit to draw blood is required. When there is a higher risk of infection, blood tests are more useful and accurate than skin tests.
Outcome and course of action
Not everyone who tests positive will go on to get the illness. If the latent infection is not treated promptly, 5 to 10 percent of infected individuals have the potential to develop active TB at some point in the future. The majority of healthy individuals who contract the infection are able to recover, but in order to eradicate the infection, the doctor will likely advise taking an antibiotic for six to nine months. This is a preventive drug therapy method in which potentially harmful bacteria are eliminated. Isoniazid, also known as INH, is a frequently prescribed medication that is taken orally once a day or twice a week. Close monitoring will be carried out because long-term use of isoniazid can have negative effects, such as skin rashes and liver damage. Taking acetaminophen and alcohol is contraindicated with this treatment. Even if you take your medication as directed for the entire prescribed duration, there is a slight chance that you will still get active TB. This is a result of some bacteria developing drug resistance.
Four drugs are taken in combination for six to twelve months to treat active Tb: isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. Recuperation and medication compliance are critical because recurrence of the illness will be more difficult to treat and cure. This can lead to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB), which can be extremely harmful.
Living with TB
In general, tuberculosis (TB) can be avoided; however, once contracted, it’s critical to look after both yourself and those around you. A latent infection can be kept from becoming active by keeping your immune system strong, getting tested frequently, and making sure you have enough ventilation and hygiene. Verify that the medication is effective, and seek assistance from a medical professional to adhere to the recommended treatment plan. Sharing food or beverages, shaking hands, or physical contact do not transfer the infection. Recall that there is treatment available even if you become infected; however, prolonged contact with an infected individual will result in development of active tuberculosis.
