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Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Mikaela Millan

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December 14, 2022
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Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection of the lungs that can easily spread from person to person. Aside from the lungs, it may also affect the digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems. 

Today, developed countries rarely see cases of TB, but it continues to be a widespread and serious problem in developing nations 1. It not only carries a huge burden of morbidity and mortality, but it can also have devastating long term effects if left untreated. 

Fortunately, TB is curable and preventable. Knowing more about this disease will not only help you recognize potential signs and symptoms of TB, but also how to curb its spread and keep your loved ones safe and healthy. 

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial lung infection most commonly presenting with respiratory symptoms 2. It is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis organism and spread through the inhalation of infected droplets. This is why we should observe proper cough etiquette whenever we go out, whether by covering our nose and mouth when we cough or sneeze, or wearing a mask. 

Once in the lungs, M. tuberculosis damages the immune cells that try to eliminate it, causing inflammation and cell death that lead to the cardinal symptoms of TB and the appearance of the hallmark diagnostic finding of granulomas on a chest x-ray. 

Signs and Symptoms of Tuberculosis        

The four most common signs and symptoms of TB are3:

  • Cough of at least two weeks
  • Unexplained fever
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Might sweats. 

You may also experience chest pain, coughing up blood or mucus, and fatigue. If other organs are affected, they may also manifest with symptoms, particularly in the kidneys, spine, or brain 4

Diagnosing Tuberculosis

As with any medical condition, your doctor will assess your symptoms through a thorough history and physical examination

To diagnose TB, they may order a skin or blood test5

  • Skin test – The medical practitioner injects a fluid called tuberculin into the skin. After 48 to 72 hours, they will assess if a bump has developed on your skin and measure its size to determine whether the test is positive or negative. The bump develops due to your body’s immune reaction to the TB, with a larger bump indicating a stronger immune reaction. A positive skin test means TB infection. This is also called the tuberculin skin test (TST). 
  • Blood test – This requires only one office visit to observe how your immune system responds to M. tuberculosis. However, it is not available everywhere.

If these two tests are inconclusive, or if the physician thinks the TB has become extrapulmonary (has spread outside the lungs), further tests may be necessary. These can include:

  • Chest x-ray
  • CT scan to check for TB in the lungs
  • Sputum culturation
  • Urine tests
  • Biopsy
  • Endoscopy – the insertion of a thin, flexible tube with a camera

Tuberculosis Treatment

The treatment of confirmed TB requires a combination of drugs to effectively eradicate the disease 6. The usual regimen involves the use of four drugs: 

  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampicin
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Ethambutol

These drugs may be administered as single combination tablets (e.g., Rifater) or multiple. Treatment lasts for around 6 months, given with Vitamin B6 to prevent nerve damage. 

The regimen will vary depending on age, immune status, organ systems affected, and drug resistance. Consult your doctor if you suspect you have TB so you may be given the appropriate treatment regimen. 

How to Prevent Tuberculosis?

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly taught us a lot about disease prevention. For TB, the same precautions apply to prevent the spread of the disease 7

  • If you are experiencing symptoms, stay at home and self-isolate to avoid infecting others 
  • Ensure ventilation by keeping a window open in the room, as bacteria spreads more easily in confined spaces
  • Observe proper cough etiquette by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue then immediately disposing of it; cough into your elbow if you do not have a tissue 
  • Wearing a mask can also help lessen the risk of transmission
  • Complete your TB medication. Ultimately, this the most important step you can take to protect your loved ones. The chance of infecting others or getting sick with TB again increases if you stop treatment too early or skip doses. This gives the bacteria a chance to mutate into drug-resistant strains that are more difficult to treat

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Most at Risk for TB?

Although TB is present globally, developing countries bear most of the disease burden, particularly in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin and Central America 8. These low- and middle-income countries account for 80% of cases and deaths due to TB 9. Poverty, malnutrition, and wars are risk factors for TB. Developed countries see TB cases mostly in health care workers, HIV-positive individuals, and travelers coming from tuberculosis-endemic areas. 

People with compromised immune systems such as those with HIV/AIDS, anti-cancer medications, and young children are at increased risk for contracting TB. Persons with HIV are 18 times more likely than those without HIV to develop TB, due to their lowered immunity 10

Malnutrition is also a huge risk factors – there were 2.2 million new TB cases attributable to undernutrition in 2021 11

Miners and construction workers are also at risk for TB as an occupational hazard

It may also be time to quit alcohol and tobacco smoking, as these account for 0.74 and 0.63 million new TB cases in 2021, respectively. 

This data tells us that while there are certain risk factors that cannot be changed such as the country we live in, we should focus on the factors that can be modified such as improving nutrition, smoking and alcohol cessation, and safe sex practices in order to lower the risk of contracting HIV. 

Is There a TB vaccine?

In places where TB is endemic, infants and those under the age of 16 are given the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine at birth to combat TB12. However, this is not usually given to adults as it is not effective. Research continues to grow as new TB vaccines are being developed. 

When Should I See a doctor?

Visit your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms of TB: 

  • Cough lasting for two weeks
  • Unexplained fever
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • ight sweats

You should also get checked if you suspect that you have been exposed to someone with TB. 

The following people should be screened for TB as they are at increased risk13:

  • HIV/AIDS-positive people
  • IV-drug users
  • Those exposed to persons with TB, such as health care workers and those who treat people with high risk of TB
  • Those from TB-endemic places, e.g., Latin America, Asia, and Africa
  • Those who live or work in areas with risk of TB, like nursing homes or prisons
  • Children exposed to adults with TB

Tuberculosis is not commonly treated with home remedies and requires a visit to the doctor. In doing so, other diseases can be ruled out and the appropriate TB regimen may be started. The sooner the symptoms are identified, the sooner the disease can be treated. 

How Common Is TB?

TB is the 13th leading cause of death worldwide and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 1.6 million people died from TB in 2021 14and 1.2 million children globally fell ill from TB. Multi-drug resistant TB continues to be a public health crisis and, sadly, only 1 in 3 people with this condition received treatment in 2020. 

Thankfully, the incidence of TB has fallen about 11% from 2015 to 2020, with an estimated 66 million lives saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2020. 

In terms of prognosis, majority of patients with TB have a good outcome due to effective treatment. If untreated, the mortality rate of TB is more than 50%, which is why it is important to identify symptoms early.

Summary

Tuberculosis is a treatable and preventable disease. However, barriers such as the lack of awareness, delayed diagnosis, and poor access to medications lead to the compounding number of cases 15. Health organizations around the world are banding together to prevent the spread of this disease. New anti-tuberculosis medications are also being developed and studied in an effort to not only shorten but also simplify treatment. Hopefully, these combined efforts plus the simple measures we take individually all aid in putting an end to tuberculosis.

References
  1. World Health Organization. (2022). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis[]
  2. Adigun, R. and Singh, R. (2022). Tuberculosis. National Library of Medicine. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441916/[]
  3. American Lung Association. (2022). Tuberculosis Symptoms and Diagnosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/symptoms-diagnosis[]
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Basic TB Facts. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm[]
  5. American Lung Association. (2022). Tuberculosis Symptoms and Diagnosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/symptoms-diagnosis[]
  6. Adigun, R., and Singh, R. (2022). Tuberculosis. National Library of Medicine. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441916/[]
  7. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-2035125[]
  8. Adigun, R., and Singh, R. (2022). Tuberculosis. National Library of Medicine. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441916/[]
  9. World Health Organization. (2022). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis[]
  10. World Health Organization. (2022). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis[]
  11. World Health Organization. (2022). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis[]
  12. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-2035125[]
  13. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-2035125[]
  14. World Health Organization. (2022). Tuberculosis. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis[]
  15. Adigun, R., and Singh, R. (2022). Tuberculosis. National Library of Medicine. Accessed on November 22, 2022 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441916/[]

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