Signs And SymptomsTuberculosis (TB)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacterium Which cause Tuberculosis (TB). The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the spine, kidney and brain. Everyone isn't infected with Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria becomes ill. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If it's not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.


How Tuberculosis TB Spreads
Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria may be spread through the air medium and it can transmit from one person to another. TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat speaks, coughs, sneezes or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and get infected.
TB is NOT spread by as following

• kissing
• shaking someone's hand    
• sharing toothbrushes
• touching bed linens or toilet seats
• sharing food or drink

When a person takes breath in TB bacteria, the bacteria may settle in the lungs and begin to grow and affects. From there, they can move through the
blood to other parts of the body, such as the spine, kidney and brain.
TB disease can be infectious, if it exists in the lungs or throat. This means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.

People having TB disease are most likely to spread it to the people they spend time with every day. This includes coworkers, family members,schoolmates and friends.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of TB disease depends on where in the body the TB bacteria are exist. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB disease in the lungs may bring about symptoms such as

• pain in the chest
• a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)

Other symptoms of TB disease are

• weight loss
• no appetite
• coldness
• weakness or fatigue
• Be afraid at night
• fever

Symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB) disease in other parts of the body depends on the area affected. People who have latent TB infection do not feel ill, having no symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others.

Latent TB Infection and TB Disease
Not everyone infected having TB bacteria gets ill. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and TB disease.

Latent TB Infection
TB bacteria may live in the body without making you ill. This is called latent TB infection. In most people who take breath in TB bacteria and get infected,
the body has the ability to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. People having latent TB infection:

• Can develop TB disease if they do not get treated for latent TB infection
• often have a positive TB skin test reaction or positive TB blood test
• Can’t spread TB bacteria to others
• Have no symptoms
• Don’t feel ill

Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. In these people, the TB bacteria lives inactive for a lifetime without causing illness. But in other people, especially people who have got a weak immune system, the bacteria get active, multiply, and bring about TB disease.

Tuberculosis TB Disease
TB bacteria get active, if the immune system can't stop them from growing. When TB bacteria are active (multiplying in your body), is called TB disease.
People with TB disease are ill. They may also spread the bacteria to the people they spend time with others every day.

Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. Some people develop TB disease soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system may fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get ill years later when their immune system becomes weak for another reason.
For people having weak immune systems especially those who have HIV infection, the risk of developing TB disease is much higher than the people having normal immune systems.

Reference - alifseye.com