|
TUBERCULOSIS:
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis is the organism that is the causative agent for tuberculosis.Tuberculosis is becoming worldwide problem.Since Tb is transmitted between persons ,increase in TB cases in any segment of the population represents threat to all the segments of the population.
It is estimated that 1/5th of the worlds population is infected with TB,causing at least 8 million new cases and 3 million deaths annually.Annually 15 million new cases are diagnosed in India,of which 90 % of them tuberculosis;25% of these are infectious.
Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in most of the developing countries.
With increase in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection,the incidence of TB is on rise in developing countries and re-emerging as major public health problem.
Clinically Tuberculosis manifests as: Primary and Secondary or post primary tuberculosis.
Primary tuberculosis usually is seen in children but even may occur in elderly.In the great majority,primary tuberculosis is asymptomatic.Some patients may experience a brief febrile illness ,or may be unwell with loss of appetite ,fretfulness and failure to thrive.Fever may be intermittent and insidious onset.
Post Primary Tuberculosis is the most common form of tuberculosis seen ,although active disease may be present without symptoms,some patients may have chest pain,cough ,hemoptysis and fever.These symptoms if present for more than 3 weeks should be screened for tuberculosis.
How do one diagnose TB …………..
It can be diagnosed as :
1.Medical history: it includes asking patient whether they have been exposed to a person with TB.,symptoms of TB .If they have had TB infection or Tb disease before,or risk factors for developing Tb disease.The symptoms of Lung TB includes:coughing,pain in the chest,Coughing up sputum or blood.
The general symptoms of Tb are:
-Weight loss
-Fatigue
-Fever
-Night sweats
2. Chest Xray is used to rule out the possibility of Lung TB.
3.The laboratory methods can be done .The following tests can be done
a)confirmation by isolation of MycobacteriumTuberculosis organism.
b)Acid fast stain of the organism
c)Laboratory culturing methods of MycobacteriumTuberculosis organism.
EXTRAPULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS:
The other sites of tuberculosis are
-Skeletal
-Genital tract
-Reproductive system
-Central Nervous system
-GastroIntestinal System
-Cardiac
|
