Tuberculosis is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Koch’s bacillus), a highly virulent bacterium. This infection mainly affects the lungs but can also occur in other organs, especially in the skeletal system and the brain.
Transmission
It is enough to be near an infected person. When they cough or sneeze (also when they talk, sing, or laugh, they exhale more infected air), they release the bacteria into the air, which can then be inhaled. Sometimes the disease can also be transmitted from infected cattle through the consumption of unboiled or unpasteurized milk. The incubation period ranges from 4 to 12 weeks.
Symptoms
In the latent form, symptoms are absent, whereas in the active form of tuberculosis, signs and symptoms appear. The symptoms depend largely on the affected organ, most often the lungs, but there are also extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis, where symptoms accompany the functional failure of the affected organ. Sometimes tuberculosis can be confused with other pulmonary or organic diseases, and a differential diagnosis is required.
Common symptoms:
- cough lasting 3 weeks or more;
chest pain; - coughing up blood or sputum;
- excessive night sweating;
- fever and chills, especially during sleep;
- fatigue and physical exhaustion;
- loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
Treatment
Tuberculosis is a serious disease and its treatment is long-term, requiring patience from both the doctor and the patient. The administration of several anti-tuberculosis medications is mandatory, and the treatment regimen must be strictly followed for at least 6 months.
Drug resistance
There are cases when a person neglects the treatment regimen or deviates from it. In such situations, the tuberculosis bacteria develop resistance, and medications no longer have an effect (even if treatment is resumed). The situation can become so severe that there are no medicines left that can destroy the bacteria, which inevitably leads to death. People who remain in close contact with the patient for a long time can also become infected with a drug-resistant form of the bacteria, which is extremely difficult to eliminate.
Complications
-
pneumothorax;
-
bronchiectasis;
-
extensive lung destruction;
-
death.
Prevention
The best method to protect children against tuberculosis is immunization with the BCG vaccine.
