Tuberculosis

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when the body's resistance is low
or if there is a large or prolonged exposure to the germs that overcome the
body's natural defenses. The body's response to active TB infection produces
inflammation which can eventually damage the lungs. The amount of damage may be
quite extensive, yet the symptoms may be minimal. The usual symptoms of disease
due to TB are:

-Fever -Night sweats -Cough -Loss of appetite -Weight Loss -Blood in the sputum
(phlegm) -Loss of energy

Diagnosing TB

To diagnose TB, your clinician will gather five important pieces of information:


-Symptoms -History of possible exposure and onset of symptoms -Tuberculin skin
test or PPD -Chest X-ray •Sputum test

Tuberculin Skin Test

The tuberculin skin test (or PPD) is performed with an extract of killed
tuberculosis germs that is injected into the skin. If a person has been infected
with tuberculosis, a lump will form at the site of the injection--this is a
positive test. This generally means that TB germs have ...

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drug therapy depending on the exposure history, the timing of the
skin test conversion (when the test changes from negative to positive) and other
factors in the individual's medical history. When it is known that a person has
recently been in close contact with an individual with active tuberculosis and
has developed a positive tuberculin skin test, preventive treatment is advisable
due to a relatively high risk of developing active disease. Isoniazid (INH) may
be prescribed for six to nine months as preventive treatment and for twelve
months in persons who are HIV positive.

Since the advent of anti-tuberculosis drugs in the 1940s, the treatment of drug
susceptible tuberculosis has ...

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