Ampath Diagnostic Guide | Pathology solutions are in our DNA
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🦠 What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
It usually affects the lungs, but can also spread to:
- Lymph glands
- Abdomen
- Bones
- Brain
- Spine
😷 How is TB Spread?
When someone with lung TB coughs, sneezes, or speaks, they release airborne droplets containing TB bacteria.
These droplets can be inhaled by nearby people, potentially infecting them.
Important notes:
- People with TB outside the lungs are not usually infectious
- Infected individuals can unknowingly pass TB to close contacts, including:
- Family members
- Friends
- Co-workers
- Classmates
🔄 What Happens After Infection?
Most people don’t get sick immediately. Two outcomes are possible:
- The immune system kills the bacteria → No illness
- The bacteria are controlled but not eliminated → You have latent TB
If your immune system weakens, latent TB can develop into active TB disease
🧬 Latent vs Active TB
Latent TB:
- Bacteria are present but inactive
- No symptoms
- Not contagious
- May never develop into disease
Active TB:
- Bacteria multiply and cause illness
- Contagious
- Requires immediate medical treatment
🚨 Symptoms of Active TB
Watch for these signs, especially if they persist longer than two weeks:
- Persistent cough
- Coughing up blood
- Fever and chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue or weakness
Other TB types (e.g. in kidneys or brain) may cause:
- Blood in urine
- Neurological issues (e.g. confusion, headache, neck stiffness, paralysis)
👥 Who is at Risk?
Anyone can get TB, but risk is higher for:
- Close contacts of infectious TB patients
- Children under 5 exposed to TB
- Workers in:
- Hospitals
- Prisons
- Nursing homes
- Homeless shelters
- People with weakened immune systems due to:
- HIV
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Chronic lung disease
- Substance abuse
- People on immunosuppressive medication, including:
- Corticosteroids
- Rheumatoid arthritis treatments
- Post-transplant therapy
- Crohn’s disease medication
🧪 How is TB Diagnosed?
Physical Examination:
- Your doctor will:
- Check for swollen glands
- Use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs
- Request a chest X-ray
Lab Tests:
- Sputum sample tests:
- Microscopy – quick but less accurate
- GeneXpert/PCR – rapid and highly accurate
- Culture – most accurate, but takes several weeks
- If TB is detected, a drug sensitivity test is done
- Skin test (Mantoux test):
- A small amount of tuberculin is injected under the skin
- After 2–3 days, swelling indicates possible infection
- Cannot differentiate between latent and active TB
- Blood test:
- Detects immune response to TB
- Also cannot differentiate latent from active disease
These results must be interpreted with clinical symptoms and X-ray findings
🛡️ How is TB Prevented?
- Cover your mouth when coughing, sneezing, or laughing
- Ventilate rooms by opening windows
- People with active TB should:
- Stay at home during the first 2 weeks of treatment
- Avoid sharing a bedroom
- Complete all prescribed medication to avoid spreading TB
- People with latent TB and a high risk of developing active TB may receive preventative treatment (TB prophylaxis)
💊 How is TB Treated?
- TB treatment requires multiple medications over 6–9 months, or longer if other organs are involved
- The exact regimen is based on sensitivity test results
- It's critical to:
- Take all medications as prescribed
- Complete the full course, even if you feel better early
- Report any side effects to your doctor
Stopping treatment early can lead to drug resistance and relapse
✅ Tuberculosis is Treatable
Early diagnosis and full treatment can cure TB and prevent its spread.