What kind of tuberculosis

Gastrointestinal TB is a tuberculosis infection that affects any gastrointestinal tract part that extends from your mouth to the anus. Even though the symptoms depend on the infected part of the gastrointestinal tract, the following are the most common;.

TB meningitis, also known as meningeal tuberculosis is a type of TB that spreads to the membranes that surround the spinal cord and the brain, famously known as meninges.

TB spreads through the bloodstream or from the lungs to the meninges and develops gradually. It causes the following symptoms;. There are many types of tuberculosis which can be treated if diagnosed early. Well, if you work in areas frequented by people infected with TB, it could be difficult to avoid contracting it, but you should be tested regularly even if they show no symptoms. TB can be tested through various ways such as Mantoux tuberculin skin test TST , blood test, imaging test, and sputum test.

Log in to leave a comment. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Password recovery. Dental Health Equals Overall Health. Ehikioya Hope - March 11, Kingsley Felix - October 24, Ehikioya Hope - January 28, Basic TB Facts.

Minus Related Pages. How TB Spreads. TB Risk Factors. TB Terms. Exposure to TB. TB Prevention. Once rare in developed countries, tuberculosis infections began increasing in , partly because of the emergence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV weakens a person's immune system, so it can't fight the TB germs. In the United States, because of stronger control programs, tuberculosis began to decrease again in But it remains a concern.

Many tuberculosis strains resist the drugs most used to treat the disease. People with active tuberculosis must take many types of medications for months to get rid of the infection and prevent antibiotic resistance. Although your body can harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:.

Tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including the kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis of the spine might cause back pain, and tuberculosis in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.

See your doctor if you have a fever, unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats or a persistent cough. These are often indications of TB but can also result from other conditions. Also, see your doctor if you think you've been exposed to TB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who have an increased risk of tuberculosis be screened for latent TB infection.

This recommendation includes people who:. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings. Although tuberculosis is contagious, it's not easy to catch. You're much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you live or work with than from a stranger.

Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious. HIV suppresses the immune system, making it difficult for the body to control TB bacteria.