Tuberculosis

Definition A bacterial infection that most often affects the

lungs, but may also affect many other parts of the body.

Cause The cause of tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacterium usually attacks the lungs. However, it can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal. TB was once the leading cause of death in the United States.

Symptoms

• At first only a mild cough or, often, no symptoms • Fatigue • Poor appetite• Weight loss• Persistent cough, with occasional bloody sputum • Slight fever, night sweats• Pain in the chest back or kidneys, perhaps all three.

CALL A DOCTOR IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS

You’ve been warned

Body Systems Affected

Transmission

When people are suffering from active Tuberculosis and you cough, sneeze, spit or even speak, they expose infectious aerosol droplets 0.5 to 5 micrometers in diameter.

A single sneeze can release up to 40,000 droplets.

Diagnosis

Tuberculosis is diagnosed by finding Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in a clinical specimen taken from the patient. While other investigations may strongly

suggest tuberculosis as the diagnosis, they cannot confirm it.

• Take one anti-tuberculosis for first several months.

• If it gets worse than contact a doctor and prescribe a dosage of a combined anti-tuberculosis.

• Should be taken for at least several months

• If it gets fatal than you have to get undergoing treatment – chest x-rays and blood tests on a regular basis.

TREATMENT

• If you take the drugs properly than you would get a full recovery, but if you don’t take it properly than the disease can be fatal.

Prognosis

• A person with active TB can infect 10-15 people per year.

• Others at risk include people on areas where TB is common.

PEOPLE AT RISK

Prevention *Other*

• - Stay away from countries with active TB• Like Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa,

Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia

- Don’t visit your friend/family that has it

• Hope you enjoyed my presentation

By Louie Molnar