Questo post è stato aggiornato di recente il 25 luglio, 2023
Panoramica:-
Tuberculosis(TB) is a highly communicable chronic bacterial disease often found in persons living in dark and dirty congested places. It is an infectious disease that affects mainly the lungs but can affect any tissues of the body( except hair, nail, and enamel of teeth). It can also be known as Koch’s disease or The King of fever or white plague. Generalmente, tuberculosis occurred in the lungs called pulmonary tuberculosis while TB occurred in other parts of the organ is called extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. It can multiply rapidly in a body and destroy tissues. però, lungs are the favorite site of infection where the small disease is formed, the condition called lung-TB. Circa, one third(1/3) of the world is infected with nine million new cases of active TB and 1.7 million deaths annually. In Nepal, it is generally known as “Kshay Rog.”
According to the latest study of NEPAL, 80,000-900,000 people are infected on which up to 4000 new cases annually.
avvenimento
It is a widely spread disease found in almost every community of the world. In NEPAL and the USA, it is more common in non-city areas. The seriousness of the infection becomes clear from the fact that about 50,000 new cases are being reported every year. Deaths per year due to TB are between 15,000-16,500.
causale Organismo
The causative agent of tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a small rod-shaped, non-capsulated, non-sporulating, and non-motile bacillus bacterium. It is an Acid-fast bacillus commonly known as AFB in a short form.
Other Species
un') M. bovis – Infects cattle. Spreads from raw milk/meat.
b) M. africanum.
c) M. avium/ intracellular complex(MAC): In AIDS patients.
Reservoir and Source of Infection
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is mostly restricted in an infected person, ma in alcuni casi, infected cattle also serve as a reservoir. The wellspring of contamination in lung-TB is respiratory discharges; and the milk of unhealthy cows. Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis( that is other than lung-TB) is usually not responsible for the infection of others.
Mode of Transmission
- Droplet infection( 1 cough→ ~3000 droplet nuclei).
- Bovine TB may spread by the consumption of unpasteurized milk/raw meat.
This disease spreads mostly by gola and nose discharges from a person suffering from an active stage of the disease. The infection may be by direct or indirect(airborne and droplet germs).
Periodo di incubazione
The incubation period of tuberculosis is quite variable, ranging from some weeks to years.
Types of Tuberculosis
UN) Primary TB: Infection in a previously uninfected or unimmunized individual.
B) Secondary TB: Infection in a previously sensitized( by infection or immunization) host.
Based on Organ Involved
un') Pulmonary TB
- TB of Lungs- Most frequent sites of infection.
- Commonly affects the lower part of the upper lobe and upper part of the lower portion (Primary) or apices of lungs(Secondary).
b) Extrapulmonary TB
- TB of tissues other than lungs.
- Commonly occurs by hematogenous spread from pulmonary focus. May occur by a primary infection of the organ itself.(e.g. Intestinal TB)
Common Organs involved
→ Lymph nodes: Tuberculosis lymphadenitis.
→ Meninges: Tuberculosis meningitis.
→ Kidneys: Renal TB.
→ Adrenal Glands.
→ Bones: Tuberculosis osteomyelitis.
→ Vertebrae: Pott’s spine.
→ Intestine: Intestinal, TB.
- Military TB results from the widespread dissemination of the organism by circulation.
- TB is rare in hair and nail.
Sintomi
In infected persons, the bacteria release a toxic substance called tuberculin, which produces several disorders in the body. The symptoms may vary according to the organs. Some of them are given below:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis(Lung TB)
- Coughing is the first sign that can be seen in an infected person.
- Slight and constant fever.
- Sputum containing blood may be seen.
- After certain days of infection, your body weight will be changed drastically to low.
- Paining in the chest.
- Perdita di appetito.
- Perdita di appetito.
- Your body will get weak gradually.
Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis
- Paining in affected tissues which lasts from three to six months.
Diagnosi
- The diagnosis of tuberculosis is confirmed by Tuberculin or Mantoux test.
- Chest X-ray.
- Positive Sputum.
- Gastric analysis, eccetera.
Preventions of Tuberculosis
The preventions against this disease include:
- Mass education concerning the danger of tuberculosis.
- Avoid smoking. Se non sei un fumatore, then never start it.
- Identification and proper treatment of TB patients.
- Immunization of uninfected person by BCG( Bacillus Calmette Guerin) vaccine that confers definite, though partial protection.
- Ensuring a safe milk supply and elimination of tuberculosis among dairy cattle.
- Improvement of personal hygienic measures of living and nutrition.
- Rehabilitation.
Treatments of Tuberculosis
Various government and private organizations(NGOs) are working for the eradication of this highly contagious disease in different countries like Nepal and the USA. This disease requires better treatment in its early stages for better results. To control this serious disease, HMG Nepal has launched the DOTs programme (Directly Observed Treatment short-course), developed by IUATLD ( International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease). The DOTs programme mainly involves good quality diagnosis and short-course chemotherapy given under systematic monitoring and direct supervision.
Tuberculosis patients may be treated with Streptomycin, PAS (Para-amino Salicylic acid), Isoniazid, Rafampicin, eccetera.
Some Facts about tuberculosis
→ World TB day is celebrated every 24th of March.
→ SAARC TB and HIV/AIDS centers are located in Nepal (Thimi, Bhaktapur).
→ TB is the most common opportunistic infection in AIDS patients.
