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Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis questions and answers

Learn About What Are Common Tuberculosis Symptoms And Treatments.

Q: Tuberculosis?
Can anybody help me to understand why Tuberculosis usually affects the top of the lungs more than elsewhere in the lungs? Thanks...

A: Sorry, i cant find anything to clarify why it only affects the top of the lungs....Never heard that b4 anyway:)

Q: tuberculosis ?
well when i was younger i was diagnosed with tuberculosis (and treated it)and my doctor said that every 10 years i would need an x ray of my upper body to make sure it is still latent TB, 10 years later i had a new doctor and i asked about it but he said that it wasn't needed and that i would have to watch out for other warning signs like coughing up bloody mucus. but im kind of worried, what if the TB affected something else other than my lungs? how else am i supposed to know? can anyone help me?

A: I think you would get symptoms in your lungs before it spread... But I'm not 100% sure about this... I'd like to know because I have a bit of a TB-fear (for no reason) so I like to have all the information... Can you try and get a second opinion? If not try not to worry, latent TB only becomes active in a small amount of cases, keep yourself healthy and watch out for anything unusual...

Q: Tuberculosis screening for volunteer work at a hospital?
I'm going to volunteer at a hospital and tomorrow I'm going because they need a blood test for tuberculosis screening. What's the point of that? Don't you kind of know when you have tuberculosis...? And do they just test for tuberculosis or do they use the blood for other diseases/drug test?

A: You can be a carrier of TB and never have had symptoms. All hospital personnel have to get TB tests to be sure you're not going to pass it on to patients. It's really no big deal. The nurse will inject a small amount of liquid just barely under your skin so that it creates a little bubble, then you go back in 48 hours to have them look at it. If it turns red and has bumps then you likely have been exposed, which is not what you want. If there isn't any reaction, then you're good to go. They don't actually take blood from you so no, they can't test for drugs or other diseases. Hope that helps!

Q: How was tuberculosis treated during the American Civil War?
How was tuberculosis treated around the time of the American Civil War? I've tried to find the answer, but have been unable to find any information other than the number of people who died because of it. Thanks for the help!

A: I don't think there was any very effective treatement for tuberculosis (consumption as they called it then). People used to believe that it was good to go to places with fresh air, mountains etc, in Europe there were sanotariums in places like Switzerland which were popular with those who could afford them. I expect there were similar places in the USA. Injecting air into the chest cavity was thought to be helpful, but I don't suppose it did any good really. Apparently they also tried to reduce lung size through surgery. It was all pretty hopeless though. TB accounted for 25% of deaths in Europe during the 19th century, and I expect it was as bad in America.

Q: How much does tuberculosis treatment cost in the Philippines?
I am helping a family out in the Philippines. Their 20 year old son has tuberculosis. A small spot in the lung. They have told me it costs about USD 1,200 per month to treat it. For about 9 months. How much does TBC treatment really cost? He contracted the disease working in a laboratory.

A: in a community health center, its for free!!!! seriously. there's this project called Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) by the WHO and DOH where they treat TB patients for free. just go the nearest community health center and inquire. they will tell you the steps to do. even the homeless could avail this treatment. http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/1458 http://www.doh.gov.ph/faq/show/477 http://www.doh.gov.ph/programs/tb but the down side is that he should go to the facility everyday to take his pills. usually, in a private hospital, you get to take your pills at home but you'll end up paying more. i'm not sure if they could make some arrangement that could make him go to the facility in less frequency.

Q: How do you get tested for tuberculosis and hepititous?
I'm going to the docotor's and I need to be checked for tuberculosis and hepititous b or something like that? (sorry about the spelling) Is it a shot or do they need to draw blood? p.s. Whats s sputum test?

A: For tuberculosis, you will get a PPD (purified protein derivative) shot. The solution is injected just under your skin, so it'll look like a small raise on your skin. You will have to have the result within 72 hours. Positive reaction means that you've been exposed to TB, and you need further testing (i.e., x-ray and sputum test). For Hepatitis B, you need to provide a blood sample. Answer to follow on question: Sputum test will show if you have the TB bacteria called "tubercle bacilli" growing in your lungs. Treatment for TB is fairly easy -- all you need is compliance to the medication regimen.

Q: Is a fully treated tuberculosis a problem for USA migration?
If a person planning to migrate to USA, who has completed treatment for the tuberculosis. Is it a problem?

A: No, as long as you summit the doctor's documents and copies of treatment.

Q: How long did people survive with tuberculosis?
In the old days when there wasn't any cure for consumption (or tuberculosis), how long could people last after diagnosis? Was it a question of years or months? I'm not interested in modern day rates as it's easier to treat nowadays, but I need a time frame for a history project. It doesn't say anything relevant on wikipedia as I've looked there already.

A: TB is such an interesting disease! The belief that TB is/was necessarily a deadly disease is a misconception. Many people who are exposed never develop any symptoms at all. Of the people who do develop symptoms, some just loose a little weight and feel crappy for months. Others have the typical lung "consumption" and others manifest symptoms in places other than their lungs! So, let's talk about TB historically. Historically, there were no ways to test a healthy person for TB, so the only way to diagnose the disease was to test sputum, the bloody mucus that people suffering from traditional TB cough up. By the time a person is coughing up sputum, they are in the advanced stages of the disease. So, they might only have a matter of weeks or months to live by the time the disease is caught and recognized. Historically, people lived with the bacteria without ever having symptoms or knowing they'd been exposed. They died of unrelated causes. Historically, some people had mild forms of TB and recovered. Historically, the best way to treat/prevent TB is good nutrition and environment. Hope that helps.

Q: What are the causes of disease abdominal tuberculosis?
What are the causes of disease abdominal tuberculosis? By which means this disease enters human body?

A: This is a question that requires alot of technical information. Therefore, I apologize for just providing you with a website: www.jrsm.org/cgi/content/full/96/12/586

Q: What is the percentage of Male and Female Tuberculosis victims a year?
I need to know what either the amount or percentage of Tuberculosis victims for any four consecutive years is. I need a percent for Young Males, Young Females, Adult Males, and Adult Females. For example, 10 Young Males infected, 5 Young Females infected, etc., etc.. Sorry if this question is hard to follow.

A: Below is the site for the center of disease control. They track all diseases and can tell you the incidence of TB or the flu or anything. It is a very useful site. In USA In 2008, There were a total of 12,898 incidents of tuberculosis It explains the percentage by country and race. I do not see the rates by sex. This could be because tuberculosis can attack anyone, regardless of age or sex.

Q: How can a different species of mycobacteria cause tuberculosis?
How can a different species of mycobateria cause tuberculosis and how would you know this is the case.

A: They don't. Only M. tuberculosis causes tuberculosis. The other mycobacteriae can cause a false positive TB test though.

Q: How easy can Tuberculosis be transfer from one person to another?
My friend said he was coughing out blood over the weekend, i did a few research and it can possibly be Tuberculosis but i do not know for sure..

A: First off, before jumping to the conclusion that your friend has Tuberculosis you must rule out other potential diseases. Coughing up blood is actually a fairly common occurrence believe it or not. (BTW coughing up blood is called Hemoptysis). Has your friend had a cough or a sore throat for a couple of days before coughing up the blood? If so, more likely than not your friend probably had a cold or upper respiratory infection, had been coughing for a few days inflaming the capillaries in the back of his throat, and they burst during a hard coughing spell (maybe he had bronchitis?) This is more plausible, as Tuberculosis is a disease that must get contracted from being exposed to someone who had the disease. It is transmitted via the air in droplets. Was he in direct contact with someone who has Tuberculosis? "**On average, people have a 50 percent chance of becoming infected with TB if they spend eight hours a day for six months or 24 hours a day for two months working or living with someone with active TB, researchers have estimated.**" The above statement clarifies the ease (or rather not so easy) transmission of the disease. To put yourself and your friend at ease have him go to his doctor and get a PPD (purified protein derivative) test as well as an x-ray to verify active Tuberculosis infection. Other symptoms of diagnostic value in Tuberculosis diagnosis are as follows: weight loss, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. Tell your friend to go see a doctor to rule out active infection and treat his current symptomatology. Good luck!

Q: Will a treated tuberculosis patient becomes infected again if exposed to smokers?
I have a friend who undergone treatment for tuberculosis for 2 years already and finished the treatment religiously. In the environment she lives in, she's still exposed to people who smoke. Is there a chance tha the bacteria will grow back and suffer that disease? Pls help me give info so that i can share it to her. Thank you so much.

A: Very unlikely. Try to reassure her.

Q: How can a person be save if the intestinal tuberculosis spreads to others parts in the body?
Can someone be save if they have intestinal tuberculosis and it spreads to other parts in the body is there any treatment or medication CAN THEY SURVIVE

A: ye[

Q: What are the short term effects of tuberculosis?
Hi there, I'm doing a biology project on tuberculosis and I can't find any information over the internet what tells me the short term effects of tuberculosis. Can you please help me? Thanks.

A: A cough that will not go away Feeling tired all the time Weight loss Loss of appetite Fever Coughing up blood Night sweats Pleurisy (sharp chest pain)