Tuberculosis (TB)

[Zia_Hayderi]

Tuberculosis​

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks. If you have been exposed, you should go to your doctor for tests. You are more likely to get TB if you have a weak immune system.
Symptoms of TB in the lungs may include

• A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• Weight loss
• Coughing up blood or mucus
• Weakness or fatigue
• Fever and chills
• Night sweats

If not treated properly, TB can be deadly. You can usually cure active TB by taking several medicines for a long period of time. People with latent TB can take medicine so that they do not develop active TB.

Diagnosis
To identify those who may have been exposed to M. tuberculosis, health care providers typically inject a substance called tuberculin under the skin of the forearm. If a red welt forms around the injection site within 72 hours, the person may have been infected. This doesn't necessarily mean he or she has active disease. People who may test positive on the tuberculin test include

• Most people with previous exposure to M. tuberculosis
• Some people exposed to bacteria related to M. tuberculosis
• Some people born outside the United States who were vaccinated with the TB vaccine (see TB vaccine below) used in other countries

[FONT=&quot]Treatment for active tuberculosis[/FONT]

If you have active TB, your doctor may recommend that you take 4 medicines:

• Isoniazid
• Rifampin (one brand name: Rifadin)
• Ethambutol (brand name: Myambutol)
• Pyrazinamide

It's very important that you take all the medicine given to you. For the medicines to work at curing your tuberculosis, you must not skip a single dose.

Avoid drinking alcohol or taking acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) while you're taking the tuberculosis medicine. Tell your doctor about any other medicines you may be taking.

Your doctor may also order several sputum and blood tests to be done while you are being treated for tuberculosis. (Sputum is phlegm coughed up from deep inside the lungs.) These tests can be done by the nurse or at a clinic.