🫁 Tuberculosis, The White Plague

🦠 Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick with symptoms⁣.

🌍 Tuberculosis became epidemic in Europe in the 17th, 18th, & 19th centuries. As the disease swept across all of Europe, it was named the White Plague of Europe. This probably referred to the pallor (paleness) associated with people with TB.

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🗣 Spread⁣

TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another.⁣

When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to incubate (grow). ⁣

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🔎 Signs and Symptoms⁣

Chronic cough (> 3 weeks)⁣

Chest pain⁣

Blood in sputum⁣

Fever/chills/ night sweats⁣

Weakness⁣

Weight loss⁣

Loss of appetite⁣

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🔬 Testing for TB⁣

TB skin Test⁣

Blood test⁣

Imaging (X ray/CT/MRI)⁣

AFB smear - microscopic examination of tissue for acid fast bacilli ⁣

📌 When there is extensive caseation (cheese-like) and granulation of lung tissue it can become necrotic and form cavities (holes) as seen in the image. Cavitation is most commonly seen in the upper lobes. ⁣

💊 Treatment

TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 9 months.⁣

First-line anti-TB agents ⁣

isoniazid (INH)⁣

rifampin (RIF)⁣

ethambutol (EMB)⁣

pyrazinamide (PZA)⁣

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❕ It is very important that people who have TB disease are treated, finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If taken incorrectly the bacteria can become resistant to the current treatments making it more difficult and expensive to treat.⁣

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