Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that is caused by the germ, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It typically affects the lungs, but it can also wreak havoc on other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine and even the brain.
TB is spread from person to person in much the same way that just about any illness is transmitted — through nuclei-containing droplets that float through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. When another person inhales these droplets, he or she becomes infected. However, not everyone who becomes infected gets sick. Some people show symptoms right away, while others remain symptom-free for months, years or possibly their entire lives. Because of this phenomenon, two types of TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and TB disease.
In cases of latent TB infections, persons who are otherwise infected with M. tuberculosis do not develop symptoms of the disease or feel sick in any way that resembles TB. Though infected, these persons are not infectious and, therefore, cannot spread the disease to others. The only way to tell if a person has latent TB is to administer a TB test. Infected persons react positively to tuberculin TB blood and skin tests.
People with latent TB are at risk of developing active TB. The risk is minimal, however. Just 5% to 10% of persons who test positive for TB and who do not show any signs or symptoms will go on to develop the active form of the disease. Approximately 50% of those individuals will develop active TB within the first two years of exposure. Active tuberculosis is most common in individuals with weakened immune systems, such as persons afflicted with HIV infection.
Of considerable concern are individuals who are infected by persons who are extensively drug resistant. Healthcare providers classify these individuals as XDR TB. Though these individuals require preventative treatment to prevent TB disease, in most cases, such treatment is not an option because of the resistant traits of the strains they acquired.
Latent TB can remain just that — latent — for months or years, or it can stay dormant for a person’s entire life. On the other hand, given the right circumstances, it can quickly develop into active TB.
In some people, such as individuals with weakened immune systems, the robust TB bacteria overcome the body’s natural defenses and begin to multiply. Once they begin to multiply, the bacteria move from dormancy to a full-blown disease. This progression can happen quickly, or it can happen after years or remaining latent and during a period of weakness. That said, once TB becomes active, the symptoms begin.
Many of the symptoms of active TB look more or less like the symptoms of common ailments. Those include but are not limited to the following:
What sets TB apart from other infections is the fact that it affects the lungs. Individuals infected with TB may experience the following symptoms of the lungs:
In some cases of active TB, other parts of the body become infected, such as the kidneys, liver and brain. In these more extreme cases, symptoms may arise in other parts of the body.
Unlike latent TB, persons with active TB are considered infectious. In most cases, this means they can spread the bacteria through coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks with others, or other means that involve bodily fluid transmission.
If you or a loved one suspects you are infected with tuberculosis, it is imperative that you undergo a medical evaluation. Whether latent or active, targeted and immediate treatment is necessary to kill the bacteria and stop its spread. For some people, immediate and targeted treatment may be necessary to their very survival.
How a doctor will treat your condition depends on the type of TB with which you are diagnosed — latent or active. If you have latent TB, you will likely undergo six to nine months of treatment of one medication. However, if your disease is active, your doctor may prescribe three to four medications for anywhere between six to 12 months. Regardless, treatment is extensive, and you can expect to take multiple medications and commit to multiple lifestyle changes for up to or more than one year.
Tuberculosis is a serious and complex disease that can strike immediately or take years to develop. Regardless of how it presents itself, it is crucial that you seek treatment right away should you receive a TB diagnosis. Your swift action could mean the difference between a positive and adverse health outcome.