Tuberculosis Symptoms: Besides understanding the lifestyle challenges, we live in a society where there are ample scope diseases to brew. Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest ones. Worse case, it is infectious too. Globally, tuberculosis is the second biggest killer.
There are 2 types this article is going to throw light on. Just as passive and active diseases, there is more to the synthesis of TB.
Latent TB – the bacteria remain in the body in an inactive state. They cause no symptoms and are not contagious, but they can become active.
Active TB – the bacteria do cause symptoms and can be transmitted to others.
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Facts
About one-third Trusted Source of the world’s population is believed to have latent TB. There is a 10 per cent chance of latent TB becoming active, but this risk is much higher in people who have compromised immune systems, i.e., people living with HIV or malnutrition, or people who smoke.
- Few warning signs that need attention
- Feeling sick or weak
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Chills, fever, and night sweats
- A severe cough that lasts for 3 weeks or more
- Chest pain
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General symptoms of TB
During a latent stage, TB has no symptoms. When TB is active TB, the cough, fever, and other symptoms can appear.
- A persistent cough.
- Constant fatigue.
- Weight loss.
- Loss of appetite.
- Coughing up blood.
- Night sweats.
- The bones: There may be spinal pain and joint destruction.
- The brain: It can lead to meningitis.
- The liver and kidneys: It can impair the waste filtration functions and lead to blood in the urine.
- The heart: It can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood, resulting in cardiac tamponade, a condition that can be fatal.
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Tuberculosis not only affects adults but the innocent children as the deadliest infectious disease.
TB is caused by bacteria. It’s most often caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Many children infected with M. tuberculosis never develop active TB and remain in the latent TB stage.
TB bacteria are spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes speaks, sings, or laughs. A child usually does not become infected unless he or she has repeated contact with the bacteria.
TB is not likely to be spread through personal items, such as clothing, bedding, cups, eating utensils, a toilet, or other items that a person with TB has touched. Good airflow is the most important way to prevent the spread of TB.
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Causes
- Bacteria causes TB. It’s most often caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).
- Many children infected with tuberculosis never develop active TB and remain in the latent TB stage.
Diagnosis
Children are more exposed to the bad air while playing or otherwise. A doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. He or she may also ask about your family’s health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam.
TB skin test is used to diagnose TB. It is a small amount of testing material is injected into the top layer of the skin. If a certain size bump develops within 2 or 3 days, the test may be positive for TB infection.
On the above basis, the most common diagnostic test for TB is a skin test where a small injection of PPD tuberculin, an extract of the TB bacterium, is made just below the inside forearm.
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Treatment towards Tuberculosis
The majority of TB cases can be cured when the right medication is available and administered correctly. The precise type and length of antibiotic treatment depend on a person’s age, overall health, potential resistance to drugs, whether the TB is latent or active, and the location of the infection.
Antibiotics are prescribed for a relatively long time. This could have side effects depending on the period of consumption. The standard length of time for a course of TB antibiotics is about 6 months as per the trusted Source.
- Dark urine
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
MDR-TB could sprout from even one untreated bacteria after the post-diagnosis and treatment. Please take health as your best interest.
