Tuberculosis is a potentially life-threatening infection originating from the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria, according to "USA Today." It generally appears in the lungs but may also affect other parts of the body. In the United States, the incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) is very low, but the disease is still seen in the inner cities amongst ethnic minorities and immigrants from countries where the infection is still prevalent. It's a disease of opportunity and often affects people with weak immune systems, such as alcoholics that may be suffering from malnourishment or people infected with AIDS and HIV. TB is the leading bacterial infectious disease in the world, according to Todar's Online Textbook of Bacteriology.
Latent TB
TB is passed on through coughing or sneezing by way of airborne droplets, so watch for coughing and sneezing. Many people who carry the TB bacteria do not have an active case, and are not contagious. Even for those that are active and contagious, it is difficult to identify without a TB skin test. Once a person has had TB, even if it has been cured, they will test positive on the TB skin test, according to "USA Today."
Active TB
Common symptoms of TB are similar to those of a cold where the person may feel feverish, tire easily and have a cough, chills and reduced appetite, according to the Mayo Clinic. Only about 10 percent of the people who have the infection in their systems actually develop the active disease, according to "USA Today."
Pronounced Symptoms
An active, full blown case of TB usually involves the lung and the lining of the lungs called the pleura. If really advanced, the germ will spread throughout the body in the blood stream. More serious symptoms include sharp pains in the chest with coughing called pleurisy, spitting of blood, severe coughing, weakness, lack of appetite, night sweats, weight loss and wasting. "USA Today" reports that approximately 15 percent of active cases advance to affect other body parts, like the gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes, bones and joints.
Diagnosis and Confirmatory Symptoms
TB may be difficult to diagnose at first, looking like several other diseases such as pneumonia; lung tumors and cancer; or fungal infections and abscesses in the lung tissue. If a person shows a strong reaction to the TB skin test with significant swelling at the site, X-rays and additional blood tests are taken to confirm the disease. A TB culture will usually be performed with sputum (like phlegm) from the patient to complete confirmation.
