Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Lung Diseases that Might Spread Everywhere Key takeaways: A bacterial infection in the lungs that spreads to different organs is called Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Mycobacterium or M Tuberculosis is the bacterium that results in Pulmonary TB. Tuberculosis (TB) is a condition in which bacteria thrives in places where one finds lots of blood and oxygen – the lungs. More often than not it is found in the lung that’s why it has been names Pulmonary Tuberculosis. However, TB can be spread to other parts of the body; this is called extra pulmonary TB. As this disease has origins in the lungs and the time for recovery is something that takes a time of 6 – 9 months to almost 2 years in some chronic cases. This diseased may lie dormant or May actively attack the system so thus is classified into: ❖ Latent TB: This means that though the bacteria exist in your system, your immunity and immune system is able to fight off it becoming active and dangerous. This doesn’t contain you from being a threat to others. As this disease is communicable, so even though it may not affect you, but you might become a carrier and spread the disease around. Nevertheless, you are not shielded from it becoming an active strain. ❖ Active TB: this means the bacteria is not only present, but also active and causing symptoms in the body. This form will harm you and also harm the people around you with the spread of the virus. Being so contagious a person having Pulmonary TB will be infected and will be spreading the germs around. This is an airborne contingent and thus, spread rapidly when the person coughs in the same air as you. Every time the person who has contracted this coughs, he or she spreads germs all over the environment. If by chance you have extra pulmonary TB you are not a deemed threat like its cousin. What Causes Pulmonary TB? TB affects an immune system that is weak. So having weak lungs and breathing problems may lead you to have Pulmonary TB. The people who
are likely to contract this are: ➢ People with HIV or having other diseases which weaken the immune system. ➢ People in the vicinity of people having active TB, it may lie dormant or latent but this is something that will show its symptoms sooner than later. ➢ Caretakers of the people having TB. These people are highly susceptible to getting TB ➢ People living in crowded places like slum areas, prisons, nursing homes, homeless shelters and the like. ➢ People who have poor health care facility or don’t have access to good health care might get TB. ➢ People on drugs and alcohol might be susceptible. ➢ People who travel to places that have not been declared free of TB. This maybe a common disease to catch. It is advisable that people who travel or are living in these conditions to get tested once every year.
What causes Pulmonary TB? There are distinct things that will point towards you having TB 1. A cough that is filled with mucous for more that 2 weeks on end 2. Tiredness and sudden weight loss 3. A constant fever and night sweats 4. If your heart is constantly beating at a faster rate 5. Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck region. 6. The shortness of breath, might lead to this. These are the markers your doctor will be looking for when testing you for TB. To find out for pulmonary TB a simple test of the mucous of the lunge (sputum) is performed which indicates if you have the bacteria or not. Is Pulmonary TB curable? To cure the infectious disease, we find the doctor combining four or more antibiotics to tackle it. This course may last as long as 9 months. Then the patient is put into observation for another 12 weeks, as the active strain becomes latent, and then it is determined if the strain is treated or not. If the patient fails to take the proper dosage or time then you might contract it and the strain which you get might become resistant to the medicines. The success rate for this multi prolonged approach is much provided the patient is particular about medication and taking it on time. Take the meds and be TB free.