Tuberculosis (TB)

Overview

Tuberculosis is a disorder caused by bacteria that are transfered from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. This disease mainly affects your lungs. Tuberculosis can be fatal.

Signs and Symptoms

Fatigue, Fever, Weight loss, Prolonged cough with sputum, Difficulty breathing, Generalised body ache, Arthritis, Bone infection, Nerve root compression, Brain infection, Headache, Vomiting, Altered behaviour, Abdominal pain, Night sweats, Loss of appetite

Common Causes

Transmission of the bacteria from an affected individual

Risk Factors

Close contact with an affected individual, Homeless people, Excess alcohol consumption, Recreational drugs abusers, HIV positive patients, Elderly people, Young children, Diabetes mellitus, Cancer of the head and neck, End-stage renal disease, Intestinal bypass surgery, Low body weight, Smoking, Steroid therapy

Investigation Techniques

Full blood count, Serum creatinine, Serum urea, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP level, Blood culture, Acid-fast bacilli smear and culture, HIV serology, Hepatitis B serology, Hepatitis C serology, Chest X-ray, Mantoux tuberculin skin test, Interferon-gamma release assays, Nucleic acid amplification test, Lymph node biopsy

Treatment and Prevention

Tuberculosis disease should be notified to the local health council, Affected patient should be admitted into an isolated ward to avoid infecting other patients, Rifampicin, Isoniazid with pyridoxine, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, Avoid spending too much time with an affected individual, Stop smoking, Ensure diabetes is well controlled, Ensure proper hygiene care is undertaken