Symptoms of Tuberculosis Disease (TB)

Tuberculosis Disease (TB) is a very contagious disease of the respiratory system. It is a bacterial infection that begins in the lungs and is able to spread by the circulatory system to other parts of the body, such as the Meninges (the tissue covering the brain), spine, kidneys, and other abdominal organs and may be fatal. Tuberculosis symptoms are loss of appetite and weight, sweating at night, and fever.

Tuberculosis Disease is more often spread (through coughs and sneezes). In crowded, unsanitary conditions most people who get it have lowered immunity because of other infections (AIDS) or age. In some cases Tuberculosis symptoms may not appear until later in life because the body’s immune system has kept the disease under control until the person becomes elderly and their immune system is somehow lowered. Thus this disease is common in some nursing homes where there is crowding and ventilation isn’t enough to prevent the spread of TB.

In its active state, TB kills approx. 60% of those who go untreated. Worldwide TB kills approximately three million people every year. Annually there are 20,000 active cases in the US alone. At one time TB was the main cause of death in the US. Medication for this disease has only become available since the 1940's. Before that time it was called "consumption" and people with this disease were isolated in remote sanitariums to prevent it from spreading to others.

What is Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a respiratory disease that is passed to other people through coughing and sneezing over a period of time and where there is little ventilation to prevent it from spreading. At this point the bacteria enter their respiratory system and can spread to other organs if it is not suppressed by the person’s immune system. If the person who is exposed to TB is healthy, their immune system is then able to contain the bacteria and the person then has what is called Latent TB, which may become active if their immune system is somehow impaired, either by age or other diseases such as AIDS.

When the person’s immune system takes over it is able to contain the bacteria in small sacs or tubercles in the lungs, thus preventing the bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body where it can cause much damage and even death. If for some reason the body isn’t able to stop the spreading of the disease then the bacteria would be spread through the blood to other parts of the body such as the spine, kidneys, and female reproductive organs. In addition a mother is able to spread it to her unborn child.

Once TB is spread through the body to other organs the bacteria are attacked by the immune system and a minor "war" is started and both sides lose "warriors." The bacteria die and also healthy tissues die and turn into growths that are called granulomas. The bacteria are able to live within these granulomas. However, they do cease growing.

It must be stated also that even though this disease is contagious, it is only the person’s respiratory system that is the method contagion; a person cannot get TB from touching the person or their bedding or clothing. So, while proper ventilation is quite necessary, avoiding touching the person or their clothing is not necessary at all. Touch remains a very healthy and necessary part of life and can sometimes assist in providing a person with emotional encouragement and peace in this and any other illness.

Someone Latent TB is not contagious, asymptomatic (having no symptoms), feel healthy, however they do have a positive skin test and the tuberculosis get active without treatment for the Latent TB. In most cases this person never gets TB, the bacterium remaining inactive through the rest of their life.

What Causes Tuberculosis
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is also called a tubercle bacillus. This bacterium is passed through the fine spray of water vapor expelled when a person coughs or sneezes. If there is not enough ventilation, then a person can breathe it in and in so doing get TB themselves. It is possible for nearly one third of those near a person with TB to get it themselves.

Signs and Symptoms of Tuberculosis
When a person’s immune system is weakened and they are exposed to TB or have Latent TB then the disease becomes active. The bacteria then begin to war against the body, and destruction can be rather severe depending both on the level of the person’s immune system and the location of the bacteria. The respiratory system is the most common place where the bacteria grow.

Respiratory symptoms may include horrible coughing that extends longer than three weeks, chest pains, blood or sputum when coughing. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, reduced weight, loss of appetite, high fever, chills, night sweats.

In addition, TB results in abnormal chest x-rays and lab results. It also must be remembered that a person with active TB can spread it easily to others nearby. Adequate ventilation is a must. Also caution by those attending to or visiting the patient must be taken.