Tuberculosis (TB)

 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Bacteria often attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. TB is spread through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or talks. TB is spread through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or talks. If you have been exposed, you should go to your doctor for a check-up. 

Signs and Symptoms; The symptoms of TB depend on where the TB germs grow in the body. TB germs usually grow in the lungs (TB of the lungs). Pulmonary tuberculosis can cause symptoms like a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or more, chest pain, coughing up blood, or sputum (phlegm from deep in the lungs). Other symptoms of tuberculosis are weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no hunger, cold, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of tuberculosis in other parts of the body depend on the affected area. People with latent TB do not feel sick, have no symptoms, and are not able to spread TB to others.

Diagnosis and Testing: Acid-Fast Bacillus (AFB) Testing is a type of bacterium that causes tuberculosis and other diseases. Tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, is a serious viral infection that mainly affects the lungs. It can also affect other parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, and kidneys. TB is spread from one person to another by coughing or sneezing. TB can be starving or active. If you have latent TB, you will have TB germs in your body but you will not feel sick and you will not be able to spread the disease to others. If you have active TB, you will have symptoms of the disease and you can spread the infection to others. The test checks for the presence of AFB bacteria in your sputum. Sputum is thick mucus that coughs from the lungs. It is different from saliva or saliva. There are two main types of AFB tests: AFB smears; in this test, your sample is "smeared" on a glass slide and viewed under a microscope. It can give results in 1–2 days. These results may indicate possible or probable infection, but may not provide a definitive diagnosis. AFB Culture; in this test, your sample is taken to a lab and placed in a special place to stimulate the growth of germs. AFB culture can confirm the diagnosis of TB or other infections. But it takes 6-8 weeks to develop enough germs to detect infection. Other names: AFB smear and culture, culture and TB sensitivity, mycobacterial smear, and culture.

Chest X-ray is a fast and painless imaging test that uses certain electrical waves to create images of structures inside and near your chest. These tests can help diagnose and monitor conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, lung cancer, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and pneumonia, called fibrosis. Physicians may also use a chest X-ray to determine if a particular treatment is effective and to diagnose problems after certain procedures or surgery. Tests can be performed at a doctor's office, clinic, hospital, or another medical facility. Before doing a chest X-ray, you will strip from the waist up, wear a gown, and remove jewelry and items that may interfere with the examination. You will stand, sit, or lie still to be examined. A lead pinafore may be worn to protect your genitals on X-ray. The specialist will use an X-ray machine behind the wall or in the next room. Typically, a specialist takes two ideas, one straight and the other on the side of your chest, but more views can be taken. The radiologist will analyze the pictures and send a report to your doctor. A chest X-ray has a few risks. Talk to your doctor and specialists who check that you are pregnant or pregnant. If the procedure is not urgent, they may wait for you to have a test until after your pregnancy. In an emergency, specialists will take additional steps to protect your child during the test.

Tuberculin Skin Test; the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) is one of the ways to determine if a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Reliable management and learning of TST require process initiation, training, monitoring, and implementation. TST is made by injecting 0.1 ml of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) into the inner arm. The injection should be made with a tuberculin syringe, the bevel of the needle facing upwards. Properly covered, it will withstand a great deal of bruising (6 mm). The skin test response should be read within 48 and 72 hours after being administered by a health professional trained to read TST results. A patient who does not return within 72 hours will need to be resuscitated for a skin re-examination. The reaction should be measured in millimeters of induration (solid inflammation). The width of the joint area should be measured across the arm (perpendicular to the long axis).

Tuberculosis Screening; TB is a viral disease that mainly affects the lungs. It can also affect other parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, and kidneys. TB is spread from one person to another by coughing or sneezing. Not everyone with TB is sick. Some people have an inactive form of infection called Latent TB. If you have active TB, you do not feel sick and you cannot spread the disease to others. Most people with latent TB will not experience any symptoms of the disease. But for others, especially those with weakened immune systems or strong immune systems, latent TB can turn into a more serious infection called active TB. You can also spread the disease to other people. There are two types of TB tests used for testing: TB skin tests and TB blood tests. This test can show if you have been infected with TB. They do not show that you have latent or active TB. Additional tests will be needed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.

Prevention and Risk Factors: BCG Vaccination; BacilleCalmette-Guerin, is a vaccine against tuberculosis (TB). Many foreign-born people have been vaccinated against BCG. BCG is used in many countries with a high prevalence of TB to prevent childhood tuberculous meningitis and military disease. However, BCG is generally not recommended for use in the United States due to the low risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the flexible efficacy of adult tuberculosis vaccine for adults, and potential disruption of tuberculin skin re-vaccination. The BCG vaccine should only be considered by highly selected people who meet certain conditions and in consultation with TB specialists. Recommendations; Children; the BCG vaccine should only be considered for children with tuberculin-exposed and regularly exposed skin, and who cannot be separated from adults. Untreated tuberculosis (if a child cannot be given long-term treatment for an infection); or Have TB caused by viruses that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampin. Health Workers; the BCG vaccine for health care workers should be considered individually in those situations. A high percentage of TB patients are infected with M strains. Tuberculosis resistant to both isoniazid and rifampin; There is a continuous transmission of this type of M virus. Drug-resistant to health workers and subsequent infections are possible, or Extensive measures to control TB infection have been used, but they have not been successful. Health workers considering BCG vaccination should be advised of the risks and benefits associated with both BCG vaccination and Latent TB Infection (LTBI) treatment. Contradictions; Immunosuppression; the BCG vaccine should not be given to people who are not immune (people who are HIV positive) or who may be at risk for the immune system (people who need an organ transplant). Pregnancy; Even if there are no harmful effects of the BCG vaccine in the newborn, further research is needed to confirm its safety.

TB Screening for People with BCG Vaccines; Tuberculosis (TST) skin tests and blood tests to detect TB infection is not prohibited for people with BCG vaccines. The BCG vaccine may cause a negative reaction to TST, which may be difficult to make decisions about treatment. The presence or magnitude of the TST response in BCG-vaccinated individuals does not predict that BCG will provide any protection against TB disease. In addition, the magnitude of the TST response in a BCG vaccine person is not a factor in determining whether the reaction is caused by LTBI or previous BCG vaccination. 

LTBI Treatment for People with BCG Vaccines; LTBI treatment greatly reduces the risk of TB infection becoming a disease. Careful screening to rule out the possibility of TB is required before starting LTBI treatment. TST response tests for people with BCG vaccines should be interpreted using the same method as for those without BCG vaccines. People in the following high-risk groups should be given LTBI treatment if their response to TST is at least 5 mm of recurrence or a positive result using a TB blood test: People with HIV, Recent contacts in the TB case, People with fibrotic changes in the chest radiograph associated with old TB, Patients with organ transplants. People who have been deprived of the immune system for other reasons (taking the equivalent of> 15 mg/day of prednisone 1 month or more, taking TNF antagonists). In addition, individuals in the following high-risk groups should be considered for LTBI treatment if their response to TST is at least 10 mm strong or has a positive effect by using a TB blood test: Late arrivals (less than 5 years old) are from the most populous countries, Injecting drug users. Residents and staff of high-risk meeting places (rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, and other health care facilities), Mycobacteriology laboratory staff. Children under 4 years of age, or children and adolescents exposed to adults in high-risk categories. People who do not have known risk factors for TB may be considered for LTBI treatment if their response to a tuberculin test is at least 15 mm strong or has positive results using a TB blood test. Targeted skin testing programs should only be performed between high-risk groups. All screening activities should be accompanied by a follow-up plan for people with TB or disease. Other names: TB test, TB skin test, PPD test, IGRA test.

Samina Zaheer (Health tips, Health Care)