The Mayo Clinic defines tuberculosis (TB) as a potentially serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. Tuberculosis is an airborne illness that spreads through tiny droplets released into the air during coughing or sneezing. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are roughly 12,000 new cases of tuberculosis every year in the United States.
Causes
Tuberculosis is caused by the organism mycobacterium tuberculosis. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, spits or laughs they release tiny droplets into the air. Anyone inhaling these droplets can become infected as well. However, it is not easy to catch tuberculosis. People are most likely to catch the illness from friends, family members or coworkers.
Types
According to the Mayo Clinic, people exposed to TB do not always become sick. Often, the body's immune system fights the bacteria and destroys it before it can spread. If the germs do settle into the lungs, a person may develop either latent or active tuberculosis. In latent tuberculosis, the germs begin to multiply within the lungs but the immune system walls them off, preventing a person from spreading the illness. The infected person will still test positive for the illness but will not transmit it or have any symptoms. Only patients with active tuberculosis can spread the virus and experience symptoms.
Symptoms
The National Institute of Health lists the symptoms of an active tuberculosis infection as cough, coughing up blood, excessive sweating (especially at night), fatigue, fever and unintentional weight loss. Other possible symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and wheezing. Due to the possibility of contagion, a person experiencing a persistent cough, weight loss and unexplained night sweats should contact a health care professional for a full evaluation.
Diagnosis
If a tuberculosis infection is suspected, the first step is often a skin test. In the most common skin test a small amount of a substance known as PPD tuberculin is injected just under the skin. The test will be read in 48 to 72 hours and any sign of swelling at the site is considered a positive reaction. The next step after a positive skin test is often a chest x-ray meant to determine whether the patient has active tuberculosis or if the test resulted in a false positive.
Treatment
Treating tuberculosis is a long process that involves a group of medications. Treatment can take six months to a year. The exact medications and dosages are determined by many factors, including type of tuberculosis, overall health of the patient, age, and possible drug resistance.
Considerations
The National Institute of Health reports that permanent lung damage can occur if tuberculosis is left untreated. With treatment, symptoms often improve within two to three weeks, however a chest x-ray may not show this improvement until later. Outlook for recovery from tuberculosis depends on how quickly treatment begins after the infection. Early treatment offers an excellent chance for a full recovery.
