$Unique_ID{BRK02122} $Pretitle{} $Title{Tuberculosis Cases Rise} $Subject{tuberculosis infection infections Mycobacterium bacteria bovis corticosteroid corticosteroids malnutrition alcoholism cancer AIDS lungs greenish sputum cough coughing Fever blood streaked hemoptysis pleura difficult breathe breathing difficulty dyspnea chest x-ray Tuberculin test tests isoniazid INH rifampin streptomycin ethambutol pyrazinamide} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Tuberculosis Cases Rise ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: I have a few questions about the infectious disease tuberculosis. How can you catch the disease? I heard that you can catch T.B. by just walking through an infected room, or just by breathing in the air. Is this true? What are the symptoms of T.B.? I would appreciate it if you would answer these questions for me. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are just as curious about this disease as I am. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: With all the recent publicity about the rise in the numbers of new cases of tuberculosis now being seen, I am sure there are many others who share your curiosity. Tuberculosis is an infection caused by the tuberculosis bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Another similar bacteria (M. bovis) causes tuberculosis in cows, but is rarely seen in the United States. The infection is caught by breathing in droplets of liquid containing the bacteria, which have been suspended in the air by the coughs of an infected person who has an active disease. However, most healthy people with strong immune systems are able to fight off the infection and never develop an active disease, even if they live in the same home as the infected person. Merely walking through a room where a sick person has been sleeping or living is not sufficient to catch the infection for most people. However, older individuals with waning immunity, or people on corticosteroids, those who suffer from malnutrition or chronic alcoholism, or from other weakening diseases (cancer or AIDS), are much more likely to become infected after a relatively short exposure to the germ. Tuberculosis can affect portions of the body other than the lungs (extra-pulmonary) but is most frequently a disease of the lungs (pulmonary). In the early stages there may be no symptoms at all, but gradually the patient feels weak, tires easily, and may begin to lose weight. As the infection proceeds and begins to destroy lung tissue, cough becomes pronounced, and gradually a greenish sputum is produced and brought up by the coughing. Fever increases, and the sputum can become blood streaked, or the patient may cough up varying amounts of blood (hemoptysis). If the outer covering of the lung (the pleura) is touched by the infection, pain develops. The patient has difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), particularly during periods when fever runs high. Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms, nor are the symptoms related to the severity of the infection. The speed with which the infections progresses also varies from individual to individual. That means that people with advanced disease that is the most contagious may go undetected for long periods of time. The disease is usually first detected by a chest x-ray, and the diagnosis is confirmed when a culture of the sputum reveals the bacteria. Tuberculin tests performed on school children help to discover families in which there is an unsuspected case of tuberculosis, and provides an important means of finding patients who require prompt treatment. There are many antibiotics which can be used to fight the infection, including isoniazid (INH), rifampin, streptomycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. Most cases require at least two antibiotics for treatment, but combinations of 3 or even 4 antibiotics can be used in infections that are resistant to treatment. Treatment may continue for 6 months to as long as two years for advanced cases. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.