A potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs
Caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis
The respiratory body system is predominately affected
Spread through the air if a person with Tuberculosis disease coughs, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and then become infected
Signs and symptoms include: coughing, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, fever, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of muscle, shortness of breath, and swellings in the neck
There is a difference between Latent Tuberculosis infection and Tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis infected people do not feel sick nor do they have any symptoms, that’s not the case with Tuberculosis disease infected people. Tuberculosis infection also can’t spread Tuberculosis bacteria to others
The Tuberculosis skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of tuberculin into the skin on the lower part of the arm. The result depends on the swelling or size of the raised, hard area. Tuberculosis Blood tests draw a patient’s blood and send it to a laboratory for analysis and results. The results are negative if the person’s blood does not react to the test
Tuberculosis disease is treated with a combination of antibacterial medications for a period of six to twelve months. The most common treatment for active Tuberculosis is isoniazid INH in combination with 3 other drugs (rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol).
Tuberculosis can be cured. A course of antibiotics will usually need to be taken for 6 months.
There is a vaccine for Tuberculosis called the Bacille Calmette – Guerin.