Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body including the kidneys, spine and brain. TB is spread from person to person through contact with droplets in the air that are released when someone with active TB disease coughs or sneezes. People who have been infected with TB may experience latent TB infection which does not cause any symptoms and cannot be spread; however it can develop into active TB disease if left untreated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people at high risk for developing active tuberculosis include those who have had recent contact with a person known to have active tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS patients or individuals whose immune system has been weakened due to certain medical conditions or treatments.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and potentially fatal bacterial infection. It can affect any part of the body, but it commonly affects the lungs. Symptoms of TB vary depending on the part of the body affected, but they can include a persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, fever and night sweats. Tuberculosis is spread from person to person by microscopic particles released into the air through coughing or sneezing. People with latent TB infection usually do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. Tuberculosis can remain dormant in the infected individual for years without them ever developing active TB disease.
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and sends infectious droplets into the air which are then breathed in by another person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that activities such as sharing a bed or kissing can put someone at high risk of contracting Tuberculosis if their partner has been recently exposed to Tuberculosis bacteria. Other factors that increase the risk of Tuberculosis include poor nutrition, HIV/AIDS, smoking cigarettes and living in overcrowded housing conditions.
Diagnosing Tuberculosis requires a skin test which will look for an immune system reaction to Tuberculosis bacteria as well as chest X-rays to check for possible lesions or tumors caused by Tuberculous infection in parts of the body including the brain, spine and kidneys. Treatment involves taking multiple medications for at least six months in order to stop the spread of Tuberculosis bacteria in those areas of the body mentioned above as well as prevent its further spread from one person to another.
Are there any treatments for Tuberculosis?
If left untreated, TB can cause damage to these organs and even death. However, treatment for TB exists in order to stop its spread and prevent further damage from occurring. Treatment options vary depending on whether an individual has latent or active TB infection; however, some treatments are used for both types of TB infections. These include skin tests or blood tests to detect TB antigens, medication such as antibiotics to kill the bacteria that causes Tuberculosis (TB), and vaccination against Tuberculosis (BCG). In addition, individuals with active Tuberculosis may need surgery if their condition is severe enough to warrant it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that those at high risk of developing active Tuberculosis should be tested regularly in order to identify any potential cases early on before they progress into a more serious form of the disease. With proper treatment and care, it is possible to control Tuberculosis infections so that they do not lead to long-term health problems or death due to complications related to this deadly bacterial infection.
How can you prevent TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) can affect any part of the body, including the lungs, kidneys, spine and brain. If left untreated, TB can be life-threatening. The good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent it from spreading and protect yourself from infection. In this article we will discuss how to recognize risk factors for TB and how to stop its spread through contact with an infected person or through airborne transmission. We will also look at what happens if someone already has Tuberculosis, as well as ways to reduce your chances of developing active TB disease even if you have been exposed to Tuberculosis bacteria in the past. TB is a serious condition that can stop these organs from functioning properly if left untreated. People with active TB can spread it to others through coughing, sneezing or close contact with someone who has been infected. There are also those who have a latent TB infection—where they have been exposed to the bacteria but do not show symptoms—who may develop active TB disease in the future if not treated correctly.
Fortunately, there are ways to cure Tuberculosis and reduce its spread. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people at high risk of developing active Tuberculosis should get tested regularly in order to detect it early on before it becomes more severe and harder to treat. A skin test or blood test can be used as screening methods for Tuberculosis; however, chest X-rays may also be needed in some cases for further assessment of potential infection sites within the lungs where Tuberculosis bacteria usually reside and multiply quickly once contracted. Antibiotics such as Isoniazid (INH) are usually prescribed.
We know that prevention is always better and more effective than treatment; however, in case of infection, early treatment is the best way to deal with this disease. As such, if you think you might have been exposed to Tuberculosis bacteria, make sure to get tested and start treatment as soon as possible. Testing for Tuberculosis is available to help stop its spread before it reaches these parts of the body.
Testing for Tuberculosis involves looking for signs of infection in someone who may have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria – which causes TB – either through contact with an infected person or from other sources such as contaminated food or water. A skin test is usually done first; if this comes back positive then further tests will be needed to confirm whether active TB disease is present or if there’s only a latent infection that hasn’t yet developed into active disease yet. A chest X-ray may also be used to look at other parts of the lungs where TB could be hiding out undetected.
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