Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect the lungs, spine, brain, and kidneys. Learn about its symptoms, causes, risk factors, and how to get diagnosed and treated.
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis has the divergence of infecting the spine,lungs, brain, and kidneys in your body. It is a serious bacterial infection. This can spread through coughing, sneezing, etc. Tuberculosis might also spread from an organ donated by a person who is already having this disease. Tuberculosis might have symptoms or not be. Mycobacterium is a name of bacteria which is the main cause of TB.
How does it transmit?
- It spreads through the air, if a person is suffering with TB in their lungs or throat- it can transmit through coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.
- People living around the infected person can inhale or get in contact with the disease and can affect nearby surroundings.
What are the causes and symptoms of TB?
The TB disease caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium, here are some active and most common symptoms and causes of Tuberculosis-
Here are broad views of the Active TB symptoms-
- Bad cough which last longer than 2 weeks
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood or sputum
- Fatigue or weakness
- Weight loss
- Chills
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
Latent TB infection is an infection which lives in the body but doesn’t multiply, people with TB latent symptoms-
- Don't feel sick.
- Don't have symptoms.
- Can't spread TB to others.
What are the risk factors of TB?
- Mycobacteriology laboratory technicians and professionals are at high risk of getting TB.
- TB is common in countries like Latin America, the Russia, Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe.
- Contact with someone who’s suspected to or already have TB disease
- People with a weak immune system, people with HIV, a kidney transplant or who are having certain treatments like chemotherapy, are at high risk of getting TB.
- Children under 5 years of age
- Live in unhealthy conditions.
- Regularly smoke, drink alcohol.
- Have had TB before and it is untreated.
Tests for TB, you should book now at GDIC-
Here are some tests which are helpful to detect and diagnose Tuberculosis from the root-cause -
- TB (Tuberculosis) Final Diagnosis (Book Now)
- Mycobacterium Tuberculosis MTB (Book Now)
- TB PCR (Book Now)
- Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Culture (Book Now)
- Blood Tests (Book Now)
- Tuberculin Skin Mantoux (Book Now)
- Biopsy (tissue sample) (Book Now)
- Urine tests (Book Now)
What are the key considerations of Tuberculosis?
When considering tuberculosis (TB), ,many considerations are important for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These considerations helps in individual health, public health, and global health-
Early Detection: If you feel the early symptoms of TB, don’t wait just consult at the best diagnostic centre near you, and book TB detection tests at Ganesh Diagnostics and Imaging Centre.
Accurate Diagnosis: Use right diagnostic tools (TST/IGRA, chest X-ray, sputum tests) to differentiate between latent TB infection and active TB diseases, which might help you in treatment as well.
Treatment Adherence: Take all the medicines timely and accurately to avoid any discrepancies in future and to end it from the root.
Prevention: Those people with weakened immune systems, close contacts of TB patients should take care as they are at high risk of getting TB.
Symptoms awareness: Persistent cough, fever, weight loss, night sweats and seeking medical help if they appear.
Manage other conditions: Managing conditions like HIV or diabetes, they increase the risk of TB.
Preventions of TB disease-
Here are some steps which can help you to prevent TB disease, everyone should follow in their daily life routine-
- Washing your hands
- If you cough, use your elbow instead or cover your mouth with the mask or handkerchief.
- Avoiding contact with other people and in crowded places.
- Take all your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Note from Ganesh Diagnostics
If untreated, TB is responsible or leads to deaths, but it's treatable if you take regular medications as your healthcare provider prescribed to you and follow all the guidelines to avoid future issues and discrepancies. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you’ve been exposed to, or have symptoms of TB or book imaging tests at no.1 diagnostic centre in Delhi, the Ganesh Diagnostics and Imaging Centre.
Conclusion
Tuberculosis remains an important global health challenge which is yet questionable and treatable properly. TB is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium. Symptoms like- Cough, sneezing, weight loss, excessive sweat might be symptoms of TB. Children, asthma patients and people living in TB suffering countries are at high risk of getting TB. We can prevent it with early detection by imaging and pathology tests or take proper prescribed medicines by doctors or healthcare providers. It might be an acute or chronic disease but untreated can lead to death.
FAQS
Q. In how much time can a person recover from TB?
If the person is taking prescribed medicines and follows healthcare professionals advice, he/she might recover within a few weeks. Or you can consult with your doctor about it and follow the advice.
Q. How common is TB disease nowadays?
Based on the study, In 2020, around 10 million people became ill with TB throughout the world, and about 1.5 million people died from it.
Q. What is the name of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis?
The name of the bacteria is “Mycobacterium” which causes Tb.
