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What Are The Different Types Of Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) does not only affect the lungs — it can also affect other areas of the body, known as extrapulmonary TB. Types of extrapulmonary TB include gastrointestinal TB, skeletal TB, liver TB, and more.
TB is a disease that occurs due to an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
It mostly affects the lungs but can also affect other areas of the body, including the liver, bones, reproductive system, and gastrointestinal tract.
People may have either active TB, which is contagious and causes symptoms, or latent TB, which does not cause symptoms or spread to others.
This article covers the different types of TB, testing for the disease, and more.
TB spreads through breathing in air particles containing the TB bacteria. If a person inhales these particles, TB bacteria enter the lung tissue.
Latent TB occurs if people have TB bacteria within their body, but it is inactive. Latent TB does not cause symptoms and cannot pass on to other people. However, latent TB can become active TB if the immune system weakens.
Active TB causes symptoms and is contagious. Doctors refer to active TB as TB disease. Symptoms of active TB include:
People with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of developing active TB from a TB infection. This is because the immune system is less able to fight the lung infection.
With active TB, the bacteria multiply and spread through the body.
Pulmonary TB affects the lungs. The lungs are the primary site of TB in up to 87 in 100 cases. Pulmonary TB may be latent or active, and around 10 in 100 people develop symptoms.
Around one-third of people may develop respiratory symptoms with pulmonary TB, but prolonged fever is the most common symptom.
Extrapulmonary TB affects organs and tissues outside of the lungs. Extrapulmonary TB accounts for around 15 in 100 of all TB cases.
People with a weakened immune system may develop extrapulmonary TB, such as people with HIV.
TB lymphadenitisTB lymphadenitis affects the lymph nodes and is the most common form of extrapulmonary TB. Symptoms of TB lymphadenitis include:
Skeletal TB is a type of TB that has spread to the bones. Around 10in 100 extrapulmonary TB cases are skeletal TB. The most commonly affected area for skeletal TB is the thoracic spine, which is the middle section of the spine.
Symptoms of skeletal TB include:
Miliary TB is a form of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. Miliary TB appears as millet-seed-like lesions on the lungs and other organs in the body.
Miliary TB may affect the blood, bones, lymphatic system, central nervous system, or organs.
Symptoms of miliary TB depend on which organs it affects, but people can experience general symptoms such as:
Genitourinary TB affects the genitals, urinary tract, or kidneys. Bladder TB usually occurs after a TB infection in the kidneys.
Genital TB is rare, but in females, it may cause infertility. Genitourinary TB does not usually cause any symptoms.
Liver TBLiver TB usually affects those with an advanced HIV infection or other immunodeficiency. Liver TB may appear as multiple, small nodules on imaging scans.
Gastrointestinal TBGastrointestinal TB affects the gastrointestinal tract. TB is rare in the intestines but more common in the ileocecal area, between the end section of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine.
Intestinal TB may share similar symptoms and features with Crohn's disease. Complications include intestinal obstructions and perforations.
TB meningitisTB meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the spinal cord and brain.
The TB infection may travel from the lungs through the lymph nodes to reach the meninges.
TB meningitis causes symptoms of meningitis, including:
TB peritonitisPeritoneal TB affects the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen. Peritoneal TB usually occurs alongside other types of abdominal TB. Peritoneal TB may cause ascites, which is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
TB pericarditisTB pericarditis affects the pericardium, which is the membrane surrounding the heart. TB pericarditis affects around 1–2% of people with pulmonary TB.
Symptoms of TB pericarditis include:
Cutaneous TBCutaneous TB affects the skin and is a rare form of TB. Around 1–2% of all extrapulmonary TB cases are cutaneous TB. It is more common in people with HIV or other immunodeficiency.
Cutaneous TB can appear as any type of skin lesion, such as:
Tests for TB include the following:
TB usually affects the lungs but can spread to affect other areas throughout the body. Symptoms may depend on the affected area but can include fatigue, night sweats, and fever.
A doctor may carry out skin and blood tests to check for TB infection and find out the location and type of TB.
What Is Ocular Tuberculosis?
Ocular tuberculosis is a rare eye infection due to the same bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) in your lungs. Symptoms are similar to other eye infections. It's curable, and getting treatment can prevent severe complications.
The same bacteria that cause TB in your lungs can also cause it in your eyes. This rare condition is known as "ocular tuberculosis."
TB is a highly infectious disease, most common in developing countries, particularly countries in Africa and South Asia. Globally, more than 1.7 billion people might have TB. But ocular TB is rare.
Because ocular TB often looks like other types of eye diseases, it's hard to know how many people worldwide have this condition. But some studies estimate that up to 0.5% of people in the United States with an eye condition called uveitis may develop it due to ocular TB. In Iraq, where TB is common, more than 11% of people with uveitis may have ocular TB.
This article explains ocular TB — its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and other important aspects.
Many people with ocular TB don't have any symptoms. For those that do, symptoms vary from person to person but usually relate to eye inflammation. Some people have inflammation in one eye, while others have it in both. Common symptoms include:
Ocular TB is due to infection from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the same bacteria that cause pulmonary (lung) TB. The infection can reach the eyes through three main routes:
An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will first perform a thorough eye exam to diagnose ocular TB. They'll ask you about your medical history, for example, previous history of TB or HIV. They may also perform or order different tests, including:
Getting treatment for inflammation in your eyes can prevent potentially severe complications, such as:
TB treatments can themselves can cause eye complications. For example, ethambutol can cause optic neuritis. Your ophthalmologist will contact you frequently during treatment to help detect and treat any complications early on.
Without treatment, ocular TB can lead to severe complications, including vision loss. But TB treatment is usually effective and can help completely resolve eye inflammation and other symptoms.
Let's review a few questions people with ocular TB and their loved ones frequently ask their doctors.
Is ocular tuberculosis contagious?Ocular TB isn't contagious. But if you have pulmonary TB (active form) with ocular TB, you can transmit the infection to others. Speak with a doctor to determine whether your particular condition is contagious.
How common is ocular tuberculosis?In the United States, ocular TB is rare. But it may be more common in other countries where TB infection is more common. It's hard to estimate exactly how common it is because it can be frequently confused with other eye conditions.
Can ocular TB cause blindness?Without treatment, ocular TB can result in permanent structural changes to the eyes, potentially resulting in vision loss or blindness. TB treatment is usually effective at preventing eye-related complications.
Ocular TB is a rare condition resulting from infection by the same bacteria that cause other types of TB, but it specifically affects the eyes. Although it can start in the eyes, it's more common from bacteria using your bloodstream to travel from your lungs to your eyes.
To diagnose ocular TB, a doctor will perform a series of eye tests and a blood or skin test for TB. Treatment is similar to that of pulmonary TB.
Getting treatment can prevent severe complications from ocular TB, including blindness. Modern treatment is typically effective and can completely reverse the negative health effects and prevent further complications.
What Is Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis?
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a fungal infection of the lungs that's caused by Aspergillus, a common type of mold. People who have chronic lung conditions, such as emphysema, bronchitis, or tuberculosis, are most at risk of developing CPA.
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a serious and long-term fungal infection that affects the lungs. Aspergillus, the mold that causes CPA, is commonly found in households, workplaces, and public spaces, as well as in outdoor areas.
This mold isn't harmful to most people, but it can lead to CPA if your lungs or immune system are already weakened from other conditions. CPA is not contagious. It cannot be passed from person to person.
Treatment may help stop the progression of the condition, alleviate symptoms, and prevent complications.
Aspergillus mold causes CPA. This mold is very common and hard to avoid. It's found both indoors and outdoors. For example, decaying autumn leaves and compost piles are sources of Aspergillus mold.
Most strains of Aspergillus mold are harmless, and your immune system can destroy them when they're inhaled. However, people with a weakened immune system or people with chronic lung conditions can contract some strains, which cause an infection.
Some chronic lung conditions can lead to the formation of air spaces (cavities) in the lungs. If someone who has lung cavities develops an Aspergillus infection, the fungus can get into these cavities.
Lung conditions that can put you at risk of CPA include:
Over time, the fungus can grow and form clumps or masses known as aspergillomas in the lung cavities. This can lead to serious complications.
CPA doesn't always cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they can vary from person to person. The most common symptom of CPA is coughing up blood.
Other symptoms can include:
A CPA diagnosis begins with a medical appointment. Sometimes based on symptoms, CPA can be initially mistaken for another condition, such as tuberculosis. The doctor will likely order multiple tests to rule out other conditions and to help confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnostic tests for CPA may include:
The outlook for people with CPA is highly individual. It can vary based on many factors, including your age, other chronic health conditions, disease severity, and how soon treatment was started.
For about 10% of people, the disease may clear up on its own. For most people, though, CPA is a lifelong condition. However, treatment may stop or slow down the progression of symptoms and prevent complications. For some people, CPA may progress, despite treatment.
It's important to talk with your doctor about your individual outlook and what you can do to prevent complications.
CPA is a chronic lung condition that Aspergillus, a common mold, causes. Aspergillus isn't harmful to most people, but it can cause CPA if your lungs or immune system are weakened from other conditions.
CPA causes mold masses to build up in the lung cavities. These masses can cause bleeding in the lungs. If the bleeding becomes severe, it can be fatal.
Treatment can vary depending on the severity of symptoms and any underlying conditions, but it commonly includes antifungal medications. Other treatment options may include embolization or surgical procedures to stop bleeding in the lungs.
The treatment plan specifics are based on an individual's situation and medical needs.
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