2. Description
Tuberculosis, is a common, and in many
cases lethal, infectious disease caused by
various strains of mycobacteria,
usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs.
3. Tuberculosis is spread through the air when
people who have an active Tuberculosis
infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit
respiratory fluids through the air.
Most infections are asymptomatic and latent, but about one in
ten latent infections eventually progresses to active disease
which, if it is not treated, kills more than 50% of those who are
infected.
4. Pulmonary tuberculosis
About 25% of people may not
have any symptoms.
The upper lung lobes are more frequently affected by tuberculosis than the lower ones.
5.
6. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
In 15–20% of active cases, the infection spreads outside the lungs, causing
other kinds of TB.
Extrapulmonary TB occurs more
commonly in immunosuppressed
persons and young children.
7. Management
Treatment of TB uses antibiotics to kill the bacteria. The two antibiotics most commonly
used are isoniazid and rifampicin.
Latent TB treatment
usually employs a single
antibiotic, while active
TB disease is best treated
with combinations of
several antibiotics to
reduce the risk of the
bacteria developing
antibiotic resistance.
