Tuberculosis , MTB , or TB (short for tubercle bacillus ) is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria , usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active MTB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit their saliva through the air. Most infections in humans result in an asymptomatic , latent infection, and about one in ten latent infections eventually progress to active disease, which, if left untreated, kills more than 50% of those infected. The classic symptoms are a chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum , fever , night sweats , and weight loss (the last giving rise to the formerly prevalent colloquial term consumption ). Infection of other organs causes a wide range of symptoms. Diagnosis relies on radiology (commonly chest X-rays ), a tuberculin skin test , blood tests, as well as microscopic examination and microbiological culture of bodily fluids. Treatment is difficult and requires long courses of multiple antibiotics. Social contacts are also screened and treated if necessary. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in ( extensively ) multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis . Prevention relies on screening programs and vaccination , usually with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine. One third of the world s population is thought to have been infected with M. tuberculosis , In 2007 there were an estimated 13.7 million chronic active cases, In addition, more people in the developing world contract tuberculosis because their immune systems are more likely to be compromised due to higher rates of AIDS . The distribution of tuberculosis is not uniform across the globe; about 80% of the population in many Asian and African countries test positive in tuberculin tests, while only 5–10% of the U.S. population test positive.
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Premium Questions (32)
I am under treatment for osteomyletis tuberculosis since last 4 months. is it safe to have sex during this period? it is communicable to the partner at any given point in time? also i recently observed that i might have got vaginal thrush due to...
hi,i just want to know i have taken anti tubercular treatment for 11.5 months precisely.I have got an mri done of the infected area and reports are normal.I am 29 years old and 49 kgs of weight, i want to go family way now.can i go ahead, as my...
tuberculosis BEST PRIVATE CLINIC IN DELHI PLZ TELL ME ANY ONE HELP ME
I have a left axillary abscess. FNAC says it is "tuberculous abscess" but the blood tests and chest x XXXXXXX does not confirm that! They both say "normal". Can that mean that the FNAC report is wrong? Should I go for another FNAC? I have already...
My son, 42 yrs old, has a 20mm PPD test. He was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis about 15 years ago and treated with combination of pills for PTB. He wants to know if he has the active type or the latent type and I know the it should be...
The issue is cough ( dry / with little sputum / sometimes just mucus ). Nose ( any one side is mostly blocked ) . A little chest congestion. If continue with the medicine given below , I feel ok . as soon as I stop I...
I have been taking Losartan for just under two weeks. 25MG once a day. I would like to stop taking this drug and want to know is it ok to just stop.
Hi,
I am sufferering from skull bone infection near my mastoid. I have been given AKT-4 thinking it is bone TB. But I am not getting much benefit after 3 weeks of treatment. My TB PCR blood test came to be...
does a sick person diagnosed with TB who is prescripted to take a maintenance drug against TB regularly still needs to take TB shots?....his current medication is rifampicin 150mg, isoniazid 75mg, pyrazinamaide...
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good Day!
I was suffering from severe Pain in my Abdomen for quite 4years, whenever i check with the local doctors, they confirmed its due to weakness and prescribed me medicines accordingly. i will be...
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Online Doctor Chat (47) - Tuberculosis
User : Hi DR, My mother she have already the problem of wheezing last 6 years(but doctors said no asthma and all).but 3 days ago when i made regular checkup to her,we find out she lost 10 kg in 2 months(she was in ICU for 10 days(SRMC Hospital)...
Doctor : Hi
Doctor : Good afternoon.
Doctor : How can I help you?
User : hi good afternoon
User : i have a general query regarding TB
User : what is cause of TB
User : or reason
Doctor : Do you mean what is the organism causing TB?
User :...
Doctor : hi
Doctor : how can i help you
User : Hello Doc !
User : I need serious advice
User : I got TB in November 2006, and nearly died from it.
Doctor : sure
Doctor : ok
Doctor : For Administrative and health purposes, Please provide...
Doctor : hello
Doctor :
how can i help u??
User : Hello
User :
User : Sir, I have suffered with tuberculosis 5 years back
Doctor :
ook
Doctor :
For Health purposes please provide your Age, Gender, Location, Occupation
User : but...
User : I am 27yrs old and married for 2 years.I had a missed abortion in December 2009 as the heart did not develop.After that I never had periods. I always had taken Deviry 10 mg tablets for getting periods. From November 2010 I am undergoing...
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Public Forum (231) - Tuberculosis
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hi DOCTOR I AM 24 WEEKS PREGANENT NOW RECENTELY I HAVE DONE CHEST XRAY THEY SEND A LETTER TO ME THAT I GOT SCAR IN M Y LUNGS WHICH MAY INDICATE PAST HISTORY OF TUBERCULOSIS AND ONE YEAR BEFORE I HAVE APPLIED FOR WORKING VISA IT WAS NORMAL I GOT APPROVAL I HAVE GOT SO CONFUSED NOW WITHIN ONE YEAR WHAT PAST HISTORY OF SCAR CAN OCCUR? DOES IT AECT...
1 Answer
Hello, I am Shashikanth. Im undergoing treatment for TB [Tubercolosis] for the last 2 months. I live in Chennai [India] where the climate is so hot [Summer season]. The problem is, On my face Im getting pimples/blackheads/boils, not sure what exactly it is and it started on the nose and its started spreading on my forehead as well. It looks so...
2 Answers
hi is tuberculosis lymph glands permanently curable?? if not what we have to do for the permanent cure and what are the tests to take whether the RB bacteria still in body or not??
1 Answer
Hi...I m Neha.One month back my gyne advised me for TB Gold test bcoz my hubby has positive tuberculosis .My test was negative bt still she is saying to me to take ATT course atleast for three months.I am also planning for baby from last two years but my gyne stopped me to do that.she is saying I shouldn t planning for baby untill my husband is...
3 Answers
Hair fall is the side effect of AKT - 4 medicine? I am a tuberculous patient and taking tablets from last one and half month and suffering from lots of hair fall.. Is this because of the disease or tablet?
1 Answer
hi,i am priyanka,i am having mennorrhagia since last 2 years and unable to concieve.firstly i have diagnosed as ovarian cyst ,for which i took complete course as advised by my doctor but still the problem persisted.then i was diagnosed with hypothyroidism ,for which again i completed my full cource treatment....but still the same complaints...
1 Answer
friend was on AKT - 4 for 1st 2 months and than on INH and RMP for next 2 months further diagnosis revealed that he was showing INH induced physcosis, hence both the drugs were closed by the doctor and has taken 4 months treatment is now fine and in very good condition from last 9 months, doctor told he is fine now and just we need to start the...
5 Answers
My child is 15 dyas old, soon after i delivered pediatrician gave him som einjection to his left arm . He said it is an BCG. He also told that there are various injections to be given during first month, second month etc. What are these injections . Why so many injections are given for this tiny one, is ther are no syrups available instead of...
2 Answers
My mother (66yr) is diagnosed with tuberculoma of brain . 3 weeks into treatment, AKT4, streptomycin (0.75), and now she is getting dizzy all the time. Cannot walk without assistance, keeps losing balance. Has lost apetite, eats very little. Confusion of mind is resolved only to a very small extent. Is the dizziness and loss of apetite a side...
1 Answer
Hi, I was operated for intestinal obstruction and after the biopsy report it was diagnosised as Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis . Dr prescribed Akurit-4 for two months and Akurit-2 for the next for months. But I don t find Akurit-2 anywhere in my city and AKT2 has been used in place of Akurit-2 as per the doctor s suggestion. BTW, I m 16years old...
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