What causes tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis: symptoms, prevention and treatment methods. Garlic for tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease of bacterial etiology. The disease has not only a medical, but also a social aspect, since people with weak immunity, an unbalanced diet, living in terrible social conditions or who do not comply with sanitary and hygienic standards are more susceptible to its pathogen.

Many people are interested in the question of how long it takes for symptoms of tuberculosis to appear. And in this case, the formation of the disease is greatly influenced by the social status of a person. And the high frequency of deaths (up to 3 million people per year) and the prevalence of the disease are also due to the long period of latent tuberculosis. By the way, this period is considered more suitable for therapy, and to establish the likelihood of infection, the Mantoux test is used.

Causes

To know where tuberculosis comes from, it is necessary to study in more detail information about its causative agent. This microbacterium is resistant to external influences, high temperature influences, and remains viable for a long time at low temperatures.

Infection with Koch's bacillus is what causes pulmonary tuberculosis. By the way, it is not listed as a highly contagious infectious agent. Despite the fact that a carrier of a virus with an open form of the disease emits bacteria into the environment, the likelihood of getting sick after contact with the pathogen and its entry into the body in a healthy person is extremely low.

A person with tuberculosis does not need to be treated under observation in a hospital if the disease is inactive. He is not limited in movement and social activity. But with continuous household contact, in families where there is a person sick with tuberculosis, it is recommended to pay attention not only to his well-being, but also to maintaining hygiene, measures to increase the immunity of other family members and constant checks of the body’s reaction to the Mantoux test to determine the likely infection at the most early stages.

Among the conditions that reduce specific immunity and contribute to the development of the disease, upon contact with an infected representative, the following reasons why tuberculosis appears are distinguished:

Tobacco smoking. This is a condition for the development of diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, which reduce local immunity.
Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.
All types of drug addiction.
Predisposition to diseases of the respiratory system due to the presence of structural pathologies, a history of intense illnesses, and the presence of chronic inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs.
Chronic diseases and sources of inflammation in other organs and tissues.
Diabetes mellitus, endocrine diseases.
Unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins and nutrients.
Neurotic pathologies, depressive states, low stress tolerance.
Pregnancy period.
Unfavorable social and living environment.

If we find out in children, then the main reason in this case is contact with an infected person. After all, as you know, this disease is transmitted by airborne droplets.

Signs

At the initial stage, tuberculosis is very difficult to distinguish from a common disease or fatigue syndrome. At the same time, it is difficult to accurately answer the question of how long it will take for the first signs of tuberculosis to appear, since it depends on many of the factors already listed above. A person regularly feels weak and drowsy. He doesn’t feel like eating, his mental state is depressed, and the slightest stress causes a strong emotional reaction.

In the evenings, the infected person feels a slight chill, his night sleep is usually restless, accompanied by sweating. The body temperature stubbornly remains at the subfebrile level - 37.1-37.2 ° C, and a dry paroxysmal cough occurs, which is especially annoying at night and in the morning.

It is important to know how long it takes for tuberculosis symptoms to appear. The first of them can occur after the incubation period, which is particularly long for this disease. It can last up to 3 years, and the infected person will not even suspect the presence of Koch’s bacillus in his blood.

Changes in appearance

Developed tuberculosis gives the face a haggard, dull appearance: the features become sharper, the cheeks fall in, the eyes take on a painful shine. The patient loses weight. And if at the initial stage of the disease all the signs are not yet so obvious, then patients with chronic tuberculosis have such a typical appearance that the diagnosis does not give rise to virtually any doubts.

Heat

A reliable criterion for tuberculosis is a slightly elevated temperature that does not subside for a long time, which is not explained by any objective factors. In the evening, the fever can rise to 38 °C and be accompanied by chills. The patient experiences increased sweating, but with the help of this natural reaction the body still fails to reduce the temperature to the physiological norm. Febrile temperature (more than 39 °C) occurs in the last stages, in the presence of powerful sources of inflammation in the lungs.

Cough

A person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis coughs almost regularly, but at the beginning of the disease the cough is dry, paroxysmal and similar to a nervous reaction. And then, if the granulomas grow into caverns and exudate accumulates in the lungs, intense sputum production occurs. The cough becomes wet, and after clearing the throat the person feels relief for some time. It is impossible to say exactly when it appears, since everything depends on the human body and its immune system.

Hemoptysis

This serious sign almost certainly indicates infiltrative tuberculosis. You just need to differentiate this illness from heart disease or lung cancer, since they are also characterized by hemoptysis. In tuberculosis, blood is released from the respiratory tract in a small amount immediately after an attack of wet cough with copious sputum. In some cases, blood literally flows like a fountain, which indicates a rupture of the cavity. The patient requires emergency assistance.

Chest pain

Pain is rarely the first indicator of tuberculosis. As a rule, this symptom worries patients in the acute and chronic stages of the disease. If painful sensations are observed at the beginning of the disease, they are not sufficiently manifested, are more similar to discomfort and become pronounced only with a deep breath.

Other signs of tuberculosis

Symptoms and time when they appear depend on the site of infection. Extrapulmonary forms of the disease are also extremely rare.

We will briefly analyze their main properties:

Pathologies of the genitourinary system. A single criterion for tuberculosis of the genitourinary system is blood in the urine and its dull color. Urination is usually frequent and unhealthy. In the fairer sex, tuberculosis activates intermenstrual bleeding, destruction of the fallopian tubes and, as a result, childlessness. If the disease has affected the reproductive system, the initial indicator will be stable aching pain in the lower abdomen and spotting.
Damage to joints and bones. A similar model of the disease can be seen in AIDS patients. Tuberculosis affects the knees, hips and spine. Inflammation destroys cartilage tissue and intervertebral discs, as a result of which the patient begins to limp, and the spine experiences severe curvature. Over time, with insufficient treatment, the disease leads to absolute immobility. Bone tuberculosis is characterized by intense symptoms and pain; diagnosing does not cause difficulties.
Damage to the central nervous system. Tuberculous meningitis occurs either in patients with AIDS or in children with a congenital form of the pathology. The signs are clear: headaches, photophobia, impaired coordination, ringing in the ears, vision pathologies, fainting, convulsions, mental disorders and hallucinations. Without treatment, the patient quickly dies. Unfortunately, modern medicines cannot save such patients.
If mycobacteria immediately after infection spread through the bloodstream throughout the body and did not meet a decent resistance from the immune system, a miliary model of tuberculosis develops. It is characterized by the appearance of multiple microgranulomas, no more than 2 mm in diameter, on organs. As they grow, difficulties begin in the functioning of these organs. Suppuration can affect the kidneys, liver, and spleen. Long-term antibacterial therapy is necessary. The initial symptoms may be the same as with lung damage, only there is no cough.
Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. One of the reasons why tuberculosis of the stomach and intestines appears is infection with AIDS, but in some cases it is observed in older people or in those suffering from the pulmonary form of the disease in the terminal stage. In this case, the patient experiences abdominal swelling, aching pain, constipation and diarrhea, blood in the excrement, sudden weight loss, and persistent low-grade fever. Tuberculosis can cause intestinal obstruction and internal bleeding. In addition to drug therapy, surgical intervention may be necessary in this case.
A disease affecting the skin. It is not difficult to recognize this form: strong nodules appear under the patient’s skin throughout the body, which burst when scratched. At the same time, a white curdled mass is released from them. This pathology is difficult to treat, has a long course and frequent relapses. The question of whether tuberculosis can appear in just this form within 2 months should be answered in the affirmative. It all depends on the state of the infected person’s body.

Chemotherapy for tuberculosis

In modern TB practice, treatment is used with the participation of certain types of drugs, which are used only as prescribed by a doctor and after the causes of tuberculosis in a particular patient have been established.

There are three treatment regimens: three-, four- and five-component:

In the first case, the patient was prescribed drugs containing streptomycin, isoniazid, and para-aminosalicylic acid. This scheme is considered classic.
But since the bacteria that cause tuberculosis have become more resistant to the effects of chemotherapy, a new regimen has emerged, including drugs containing rifabutin, streptomycin, pyrazinamide, and isoniazid. Currently it is used in 120 countries around the world.
Some experts prefer a stronger five-component regimen, including the substances mentioned above with the addition of a fluoroquinolone derivative (for example, ciprofloxacin).

Drug therapy

Supportive treatment for tuberculosis includes:

Immunostimulants. They are prescribed after it has been established why the patient has tuberculosis and what influences its development. They help improve the general condition and resistance of the body to illness.
Hepatoprotectors. They are needed to protect the liver from the negative effects of drugs; they are prescribed with continuous monitoring of the amount of bilirubin in the blood.
Sorbents. They are taken during the period of chemotherapy withdrawal, in case of very serious third-party results.
B vitamins, glutamic acid and ATP are essential to prevent peripheral neuropathy and other unnecessary CNS effects.
“Methyluracil”, preparations containing aloe, “Glunate”, “Fibs” are prescribed during the treatment of tuberculosis to accelerate cellular recovery.
Glucocorticoids are a last resort, as they have a powerful immunosuppressive effect. However, in some cases they are still prescribed for a short period of time in order to suppress inflammation in severe forms of the disease.

Surgery

So, we found out why tuberculosis appears. Diagnosing the disease in advanced cases requires surgical treatment. It involves several types of surgical intervention:

Artificial pneumothorax or pneumoperitoneum - squeezing and securing the lung through the introduction of purified oxygen into the pleural cavity. The method is called collapse therapy. If the organ is fixed, the cavities in it grow together over time; in addition, the release of the tuberculosis pathogen stops, and the patient stops infecting people.
Speleotomy or cavernectomy is the removal of particularly large cavities that cannot be treated conservatively.
Valvular bronchoblocking is the installation of small valves at the mouths of the bronchi to avoid their gluing and normalize the breathing of infected people.
Resection is the removal of an irreversibly damaged lobe of the lung.
Lobectomy - removal of one part of an organ.
Bilobectomy - removal of one part of both organs.
Complete removal of one lobe of an organ - pneumonectomy, pneumonectomy.

Some traditional medicine recipes will also help in treating the described illness.

Garlic for tuberculosis

Garlic therapy is an effective method, albeit a long-term one. Its juice and water extract have a pronounced bactericidal property. The menu of tuberculosis patients must certainly include garlic.

Here are some recipes using garlic:

You need to peel 2 cloves, chop them and pour a glass of water. This drug is infused for 24 hours. It should be drunk in the morning and immediately prepared a portion for the next day. This infusion is taken for 2-3 months.
And Chinese traditional medicine advises consuming 30 g of garlic on the first day, then increasing the dose to 90-120 g (approximately half a glass of garlic) over the course of 1.5 months. Having reached the maximum dose, you must begin to gradually reduce it over the next 1.5 months to the initial 30 g per day.
Recipe with honey and horseradish. Thoroughly mix 0.5 kg of horseradish and garlic, finely chopped, 1 kg of butter and 5 kg of honey, leave in a bubbling water bath for about a quarter of an hour, stirring from time to time. Take 50 g before meals.

Healing jam

Such a healing composition will undoubtedly help in treating the first signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. Take a liter of unsalted rendered lard, honey and agave juice. Add to this mixture a spoonful of beeswax and pure rosin, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Add 1.5 packs of cocoa, 250 ml of vodka and sublimate to the edge of the knife.

Preparation:

Place the pork fat, honey and beeswax on gas in one pan.
As soon as everything dissolves, pour in the agave.
Boil and gradually add everything else.
Vodka - at the end.
When everything is mixed, cover with a lid and place in the oven for an hour. The end result will be jam.

You need to take a tablespoon 3-5 times a day; you can spread it on bread and eat it with tea. This jam cleanses the lungs well, and improvement will occur after the first day of use. Also, such a remedy would be appropriate if wheezing appeared after starting treatment for tuberculosis. After all, all its components quickly fight the disease, and the cough will gradually begin to recede.

Tuberculosis is a social disease that is a reflection of a person’s standard of living. The disease has a chronic course, with many clinical manifestations in various organs and systems, but the respiratory organs are predominantly affected.

Tuberculosis requires timely diagnosis and treatment.

The historical name of the disease comes from the word tuberculum (which means “tubercle” in Latin), this is what the site of inflammation in the form of a granuloma caused by the causative agent of tuberculosis looks like. This disease occurs due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or Koch's bacillus (named after the German scientist who discovered the pathogen under a microscope).

There are 74 types of mycobacteria known to the scientific world. Bacteria are found almost everywhere: in the soil, in the air, in water, in the bodies of people, animals and birds.

Basically, the damage begins in the respiratory tract (bronchopulmonary system), and mycobacteria can also affect all organs and systems simultaneously or locally.

The reason for the existence of tuberculosis is associated with the absence of pronounced manifestations of the disease - its symptoms are similar to viral and colds. Mycobacteria are resistant to aggressive environmental influences and antibacterial drugs due to the mutation of Koch's bacillus.

Classification

In 92% of cases, lung tissue is affected, bone tissue lesions, tuberculosis of the bladder, skin, brain tissue and intestines are noted. In connection with this factor, tuberculosis is usually divided into two forms - pulmonary and extrapulmonary.

If the patient is infected with tuberculosis for the first time, then this type is called primary; if the period of remission of the disease is activated again, then this type is called secondary.

Primary tuberculosis- the most acute form of manifestation of the disease, occurs after the penetration of Koch’s bacillus into the human circulatory system. People with a weakened or immature immune system often become ill; at this stage, patients are not contagious. A tuberculous granuloma is forming. Patients require complex drug treatment.

Secondary tuberculosis- occurs during secondary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis of a different strain or, due to decreased immunity, repeated exacerbation. The emergence of new foci of inflammation leads to the fusion of caverns, forming a large area of damage to the lung tissue.

Up to 30% of patients with severe tuberculosis die in the first months.

During this period, the patient is very dangerous to others due to his high infectiousness; mycobacteria are massively released into the environment through cough and sputum.

Symptoms

Feelings of weakness, drowsiness and weakness appear at the initial stage of tuberculosis, so they can be confused with acute respiratory infections or chronic fatigue syndrome. Appetite decreases, there is no mood, any stress is accompanied by a violent reaction, the psyche becomes labile.

In the evening, a feeling of chills is felt, sleep becomes interrupted and restless, and sweating is characteristic. There is a prolonged low-grade fever up to 37.5-38 degrees, attacks of dry cough at night.

If you have a low-grade fever for a month, this is one of the clear signs of tuberculosis.

Detailed description of the patient's characteristic morphological changes

Appearance - the face becomes haggard, the skin becomes pale, the eyes acquire an unnatural shine, the cheeks become hollow, the face becomes sharper. The patient undergoes intense weight loss.

Cough - has a paroxysmal course, dry and constant, at the initial stage of the disease. In the process of progression and the formation of cavities with exudate, the cough becomes moist, with copious sputum and causes some relief. An asymptomatic cough for three or more weeks should alert you and immediately send you to a phthisiatrician.

Hemoptysis is a rather ominous symptom indicating an infiltrative form of tuberculosis. First of all, differentiation is made from lung tumors and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Blood can be released in streaks in a large amount of sputum or pour out massively, like a fountain, when the cavity ruptures.

Such patients require emergency surgical care. The patient may be bothered by pain in the chest; as a rule, it manifests itself at the initial stage of the disease, it is mild and causes discomfort.

When and how can you become infected?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be found in any enclosed space where there are a large number of people. Most often, there is a high risk in public transport, city clinics, and poorly ventilated areas.

One patient suffering from an open form of tuberculosis can infect up to 15 people.

The immune system of a healthy person is ready to fight many types of viruses and bacteria, but frequent colds, fatigue, lack of vitamins and a balanced diet create favorable factors for mycobacteria and contribute to the onset of tuberculosis activity.

Routes of transmission of mycobacteria:

airborne- contributes to the defeat of up to 98% of the world's population;
contact-household path- infection occurs from personal items of the patient. Mycobacteria are transmitted by kissing and sexually, through blood if present, from animals with tuberculosis;
food route- implies infection through consumption of milk or meat of a sick animal;
intrauterine tract- quite rare, since it requires a combination of several factors. For example, if a pregnant woman is infected with chronic tuberculosis and is infected with HIV, the risk of damage to the fetus is absolute, since the placental barrier is penetrated by bacteria and virus. The prognosis of young patients is extremely unfavorable due to the lack of immunity and the severity of antibiotic therapy. There is no treatment for newborns with this form of tuberculosis.

Diagnosis of tuberculosis

There are modern diagnostic technologies.

Diagnosis with tuberculin or Mantoux test. Tuberculin diagnosis is regularly carried out in clinics and schools, in one-year-old children and adolescents. The technique consists of injecting 0.1 ml of tuberculin solution subcutaneously into the forearm, the dosage is selected individually according to the patient’s age, and after three days the test is evaluated. The diameter of the papule of the injected solution is measured with a centimeter.

With a papule diameter of 5-15 mm, we can talk about a normal immune response. A papule with a diameter of 0-2 mm indicates the absence of an immune response. The child must be vaccinated again because there is no protection against the pathogen. If the diameter of the papule is 16 mm or more, it can be judged that there is an inadequate immune response.

The child could have been infected with tuberculosis or be a carrier. Consultation and additional diagnostics with a phthisiatrician are required.

X-ray of the lungs and fluorography. Fluorography is the main diagnostic method at an early stage in adults, carried out once every two years. Helps identify tuberculosis foci in the lungs. Radiography is carried out in a more in-depth study of the lesions, to clarify the location and size.

Bacteriological culture of sputum. Bacteriological examination of sputum is mandatory for any patient with complaints of cough and the slightest signs of tuberculosis. It is carried out to identify the pathogen and prescribe an antibiotic sensitive to it and a further treatment regimen.

Linked immunosorbent assay. The enzyme immunoassay method can detect antibodies in human blood. The result will indicate the presence or absence of the pathogen in the body.

Principles of therapy

We've looked at what tuberculosis is, let's take a look at how to treat it.

Treatment is prescribed by the attending physician and the duration depends on the severity and form of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can be cured if the patients being treated strictly follow the instructions of the TB doctor.

There are several treatment regimens: antibacterial therapy, additional supportive therapy with medications, surgical removal of affected lesions, rehabilitation treatment.

Antibacterial therapy

Complex treatment is used, which includes several antibiotics of different groups that are sensitive to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This therapy technique allows you to stop the proliferation of bacteria of several strains of mycobacteria, stop the inflammation of the lesion and stop their release into the environment.

There are three-component, four-component and five-component antibacterial therapy regimens.

The three-component regimen consists of: isoniazid, para-aminosalicylic acid, streptomycin. Three-component therapy is relevant today in the initial stages of the disease.

Quadruple antibiotic therapy was adopted due to the mutation of mycobacterial strains, it is also called DOTS therapy. This strategy has been adopted in 120 countries and allows for a more gentle regulation of the treatment process using a combination of two pairs of antibiotics: kanamycin, rifabutin, ftivazide, pyrazinamide.

A multicomponent regimen is prescribed for particularly severe forms of tuberculosis; the four-component combination includes a fifth antibacterial drug - ciprofloxacin. Therapy is carried out for twenty months or more, this is a more expensive treatment and has severe toxic consequences for the patient's body.

Additional supportive therapy with medications

Additional supportive therapy for tuberculosis consists of maximizing the strengthening of the patient’s body and reducing the toxic effects of antibacterial therapy.

Immunostimulants, drugs that restore liver function and function, sorbents that help remove toxic breakdown products of chemotherapy drugs, vitamin complexes and drugs that promote the regeneration and healing of affected tissues, glucocorticoids are prescribed in an extremely pronounced period of inflammation of tuberculosis foci.

Treatment of concomitant diseases of tuberculosis is also important.

Surgical removal of affected lesions

How is complicated tuberculosis treated?

Surgical methods of therapy are resorted to in extremely advanced cases, where a complication can cost the patient’s life. Large cavernous lesions prone to merging with massive bleeding are removed.

Resection of a lobe of the lung or an entire part, due to the irreversibility of the lesion process. Sometimes they resort to large-scale surgery to remove the entire right or left lung.

Rehabilitation

Of course, such severe surgical interventions due to tuberculosis require long-term supportive drug treatment and rehabilitation. It is recommended to carry out sanatorium-resort treatment of complicated forms of tuberculosis in areas with an ecologically clean and dry climate.

Such patients become disabled for life.

Therefore, it is extremely important to suspect the disease at an early stage and begin timely adequate therapy.

Experts understand tuberculosis as an infectious disease that is caused by tuberculosis bacilli (Koch bacilli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis), accompanied by the formation of granulomas in various organs and the development of cellular allergies. Most often, patients are diagnosed with tuberculosis of the lungs, joints, bones, skin and genitourinary organs. All these forms of tuberculosis require urgent treatment, since otherwise the disease progresses and leads to death.

The first serious studies of tuberculosis were carried out back in 1882 by Robert Koch. A German scientist studied tuberculosis, the symptoms of the disease, and the properties of pathogens. He proved the infectious nature of the disease and found out that tuberculosis bacilli are very tenacious. They are preserved in snow, in the ground, and thrive in low and high temperatures. This is partly why doctors experience enormous difficulties in treating tuberculosis and often cannot completely rid a person of this dangerous disease.

How is infection transmitted?

Tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets, that is, you can become infected even without direct contact with the patient, but simply by being in the same room with him. In some cases, infection occurs through food and other objects that are contaminated with Koch bacilli. If tuberculosis pathogens enter the body with food, then tuberculosis in children and adults affects the gastrointestinal tract, and not the lungs, as happens when inhaling contaminated air.

Maximum caution should be exercised by people who frequently come into contact with patients and have increased susceptibility to the action of pathogens. Regular prevention of tuberculosis is necessary:

schoolchildren, students and other persons who may be in constant close contact with infected people;
prisoners and employees of penitentiary institutions;
people who abuse drugs and alcohol;
medical workers;
patients with diabetes mellitus and HIV infection;
people whose immune systems are weakened by a serious illness or long-term use of any potent drugs.

Forms of tuberculosis

Today, there are quite a few options for classifying this infection. Each of them is based on one or another characteristic feature of the development of tuberculosis. In our article we will introduce you to the classification, which is based on organs and systems affected by Koch's bacillus.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious process that develops directly in the human lungs. This form is the most common in modern society, since pathogens are easily transmitted to healthy people by airborne droplets. We also note that with the flow of blood and lymph, rods can penetrate into other organs and systems.

Intestinal tuberculosis is characterized by disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The intestinal walls and mesenteries are most susceptible to infection. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated food, for example, through frequent consumption of dairy products. The signs of intestinal tuberculosis are similar to the symptoms of many other pathologies, which negatively affects the timely making of the correct diagnosis and the time to begin treatment.

Tuberculosis of bones and joints is a fairly common form of infection that affects the vertebrae and tubular bones of the legs and thighs. As a rule, when diagnosing bone tuberculosis, treatment involves an integrated approach and a thorough examination of other organs. This is due to the fact that this form is usually a consequence of the spread of an infectious process from other parts of the body, for example, from the lungs.

Tuberculosis of the genitourinary system - the destructive effects of Koch bacilli are experienced by the bladder, ureters and kidneys. In the absence of adequate treatment, organs become deformed, which leads to numerous complications, difficulties with urine excretion and other serious pathologies.

In addition to the organs and systems described above, the tuberculosis bacillus can affect the prostate gland, testicles, fallopian tubes, meninges, nerve endings and skin. Please also note that all forms of tuberculosis are very dangerous, so if you suspect an infection, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination of the body.

Tuberculosis - symptoms and clinical picture of the disease

Since the most common form of infection today is pulmonary tuberculosis (diagnosed in 60-70% of cases), we will consider in detail the symptoms of tuberculosis of this particular type, especially since they are also characteristic of other types of the disease. So, patients exhibit the following signs of tuberculosis:

a sharp decrease in body weight, pallor of the skin, a significant change in appearance;
weakness, excessive fatigue, decreased performance;
dry cough, which is especially severe at night and in the morning. As tuberculosis develops, the cough becomes wet and is accompanied by the discharge of sputum;
increase in body temperature - usually the temperature does not rise to critical levels and stops at 37.5-38 degrees. Please note that when diagnosed with tuberculosis, symptoms are severe in the evenings or at night. This feature makes it possible to separate them from signs of other respiratory tract diseases, which are not accompanied by temperature fluctuations and are usually characterized by higher values of this indicator.
hemoptysis is one of the main symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. In most cases, hemoptysis follows immediately after a coughing attack. A little blood is released, but the process itself is very dangerous, as it can at any time lead to the development of pulmonary hemorrhage and subsequent death.

Lesions of other organs are accompanied by signs that, at first glance, are indistinguishable from the symptoms of other common ailments, so it is pointless to consider them within the scope of this article. Let's just say that if there is any suspicion of tuberculosis, treatment should begin as quickly as possible. Its success depends on a timely diagnosis, and this is the best argument in favor of promptly consulting a doctor if discomfort and pain occur.

Tuberculosis in children

In childhood, tuberculosis develops somewhat differently than in adults. This is due to the child’s underdeveloped immune system. Tuberculosis progresses much faster and leads to the most tragic consequences. At risk are children who are poorly nourished, often overworked, live in unsanitary conditions and suffer from a lack of vitamins. Parents should pay special attention to fatigue, decreased attention, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Treatment of tuberculosis

If tuberculosis is detected in the early stages, it is almost always treatable. The course of therapy must be continuous, and during it several anti-tuberculosis drugs are used simultaneously. The patient takes 4-5 medications daily for at least 6 months. Thanks to this approach, it is possible to achieve the most effective results, because different active components have different effects on Koch’s bacillus, which makes it possible to destroy an extremely tenacious pathogen. The drugs of choice for tuberculosis are streptomycin, pyrazinamide, rimphapicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and others.

When treating tuberculosis, in addition to specific medications, patients are also prescribed general strengthening procedures - breathing exercises, immunotherapy, physiotherapy. When tuberculosis is diagnosed, treatment should be carried out only with the participation of an experienced specialist, since incorrect actions can lead to rapid progression of the disease and irreparable consequences.

Prevention of tuberculosis

Prevention of tuberculosis involves both the use of social factors and the implementation of specific work. The social component of effective tuberculosis prevention includes:

improving the quality of life of the population;
prevention of occupational lung diseases;
improving the environmental situation in large cities;
giving up fast food and switching to proper nutritious nutrition;
combating drug addiction, alcoholism and smoking;
expansion of the network of sanatorium and resort institutions.

Specific prevention of tuberculosis is based on vaccination of the population and regular fluorographic examinations. The latter make it possible to detect pulmonary tuberculosis in time and begin treatment in the early stages, which reduces the likelihood of death. More frequent examinations are used for persons who are in constant contact with sick people.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

is an infectious pathology caused by the Koch bacillus, characterized by different clinical and morphological variants of damage to the lung tissue. The variety of forms of pulmonary tuberculosis causes variability in symptoms. The most typical symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are respiratory disorders (cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath) and symptoms of intoxication (prolonged low-grade fever, sweating, weakness). To confirm the diagnosis, radiation, laboratory tests, and tuberculin diagnostics are used. Chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis is carried out with special tuberculostatic drugs; for destructive forms, surgical treatment is indicated.

General information

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a disease of infectious etiology that occurs with the formation of specific inflammatory foci in the lungs and a general intoxication syndrome. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has an ancient history: tuberculosis infection was known to representatives of early civilizations. The former name of the disease “phtisis” translated from Greek means “consumption, exhaustion”, and the doctrine of tuberculosis was called “phthisiology”.

Today, pulmonary tuberculosis represents not only a medical and biological, but also a serious socio-economic problem. According to WHO, every third person on the planet is infected with tuberculosis, and the mortality rate from the infection exceeds 3 million people a year. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common form of tuberculosis infection. The share of tuberculosis in other locations (joints, bones and spine, genitals, intestines, serous membranes, central nervous system, eyes, skin) in the incidence structure is much lower.

Causes

Characteristics of the pathogen

Specific agents that determine the infectious nature of the disease are Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT). In 1882 Robert Koch was the first to describe the basic properties of the pathogen and prove its specificity, so the bacterium received the name of its discoverer - Koch's bacillus. Microscopically, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has the appearance of a straight or slightly curved fixed rod, 0.2-0.5 nm wide and 0.8-3 nm long.

A distinctive feature of MBT is its high resistance to external influences (high and low temperatures, humidity, acids, alkalis, disinfectants). The pathogens of pulmonary tuberculosis demonstrate the least resistance to sunlight. For humans, tuberculosis bacteria of the human and bovine type are dangerous; cases of infection with avian mycobacteria are extremely rare.

Routes of infection

The main route of infection in primary pulmonary tuberculosis is aerogenic: from a person with the open form, mycobacteria spread with particles of mucus released into the environment when talking, sneezing, coughing; can dry out and spread with dust over considerable distances. The infection often enters the respiratory tract of a healthy person through airborne droplets or dust.

A lesser role in infection is played by nutritional (when consuming contaminated products), contact (by using shared hygiene items and utensils) and transplacental (intrauterine) routes. The cause of secondary pulmonary tuberculosis is reactivation of a previously suffered infection or re-infection.

Risk factors

However, the entry of MBT into the body does not always lead to disease. Factors against which pulmonary tuberculosis develops especially often are:

unfavorable social and living conditions
smoking and other chemical addictions
malnutrition
immunosuppression (HIV infection, glucocorticoid use, condition after organ transplantation)
oncological diseases, etc.

Migrants, prisoners, and people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction are at risk for developing pulmonary tuberculosis. The virulence of the infection and the duration of contact with a sick person also matter.

Pathogenesis

With a decrease in local and general protective factors, mycobacteria freely penetrate into the bronchioles and then into the alveoli, causing specific inflammation in the form of individual or multiple tuberculous tubercles or foci of curdled necrosis. During this period, a positive reaction to tuberculin appears - a turn of the tuberculin test. Clinical manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis at this stage often remain unrecognized. Small lesions can resolve, scar, or calcify on their own, but MBT remain in them for a long time.

“Awakening” of infection in old tuberculosis foci occurs when faced with an exogenous superinfection or under the influence of unfavorable endo- and exogenous factors. Secondary pulmonary tuberculosis can occur in an exudative or productive form. In the first case, perifocal inflammation develops around the initial lesion; subsequently, the infiltrates may undergo disintegration, melting with the rejection of caseous masses and the formation of cavities. In productive forms of the tuberculosis process, connective tissue grows in the lungs, which leads to pulmonary fibrosis, deformation of the bronchi, and the formation of bronchiectasis.

Classification

Primary pulmonary tuberculosis is the first developed infiltration of lung tissue in individuals who do not have specific immunity. Diagnosed mainly in childhood and adolescence; occurs less frequently in older and elderly people who have previously suffered a primary infection that resulted in complete recovery. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis can take the form of:

primary tuberculosis complex (PTC)
tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes (HTLU)
chronically ongoing tuberculosis.

Secondary pulmonary tuberculosis develops through repeated contact with the office or as a result of reactivation of the infection in the primary focus. The main secondary clinical forms are presented:

cavernous (fibrous-cavernous) tuberculosis

Separately, there are coniotuberculosis (tuberculosis developing against the background of pneumoconiosis), tuberculosis of the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi; tuberculous pleurisy. When patients release MBT into the environment with sputum, they speak of an open form (BK+) of pulmonary tuberculosis; in the absence of bacilli excretion – a closed form (VC–). Periodic bacilli excretion (BK±) is also possible.

The course of pulmonary tuberculosis is characterized by successive alternating phases of development:

1) infiltrative
2) decay and contamination
3) resorption of the lesion
4) compaction and calcification.

Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis

Primary tuberculosis complex

The primary tuberculosis complex combines signs of specific inflammation in the lung and regional bronchoadenitis. It can be asymptomatic or under the guise of colds, so the detection of primary pulmonary tuberculosis is facilitated by mass screening of children (Mantoux test) and adults (preventive fluorography).

More often it occurs subacutely: the patient is bothered by a dry cough, low-grade fever, fatigue, and sweating. In acute manifestations, the clinical picture resembles nonspecific pneumonia (high fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath). As a result of treatment, resorption or calcification of the PTC (Gon's lesion) occurs. In unfavorable cases, it can be complicated by caseous pneumonia, the formation of cavities, tuberculous pleurisy, miliary tuberculosis, dissemination of mycobacteria with damage to the kidneys, bones, and meninges.

Tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes

In VGLU tuberculosis, symptoms are caused by compression of large bronchi and mediastinal organs by enlarged lymph nodes. This form is characterized by a dry cough (whooping cough, bitonal), enlarged cervical and axillary nodes. Young children often experience difficulty breathing - expiratory stridor. The temperature is subfebrile, febrile “candles” may occur.

Disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis

It can manifest in acute (miliary), subacute and chronic forms. The typhoid form of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis is characterized by the predominance of intoxication syndrome over bronchopulmonary symptoms. It begins acutely, with an increase in temperature to 39-40 ° C, headache, dyspeptic disorders, severe weakness, tachycardia. As toxicosis intensifies, disturbances of consciousness and delirium may occur.

In the pulmonary form of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis, respiratory disorders are more pronounced from the very beginning, including dry cough, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. In severe cases, acute cardiopulmonary failure develops. The meningeal form corresponds to symptoms of damage to the meninges.

The subacute course of disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis is accompanied by moderate weakness, decreased performance, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Temperature rises occur occasionally. The cough is productive and does not bother the patient much. Sometimes the first sign of the disease is pulmonary hemorrhage.

Chronic disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis in the absence of exacerbation is asymptomatic. During an outbreak of the process, the clinical picture is close to the subacute form. Disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis is dangerous for the development of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, spontaneous pneumothorax, severe pulmonary hemorrhage, and amyloidosis of internal organs.

Cavernous and fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis

The nature of the course of the cavernous tuberculosis process is wave-like. During the disintegration phase, intoxication symptoms and hyperthermia increase, the cough intensifies and the amount of sputum increases, and hemoptysis occurs. Bronchial tuberculosis and nonspecific bronchitis are often associated.

Fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis is characterized by the formation of cavities with a pronounced fibrous layer and fibrous changes in the lung tissue around the cavity. It lasts a long time, with periodic exacerbations of general infectious symptoms. With frequent outbreaks, respiratory failure of II-III degree develops.

Complications associated with the destruction of lung tissue are profuse pulmonary hemorrhage, bronchopleural fistula, purulent pleurisy. The progression of cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis is accompanied by endocrine disorders, cachexia, renal amyloidosis, tuberculous meningitis, cardiopulmonary failure - in this case the prognosis becomes unfavorable.

Cirrhotic pulmonary tuberculosis

It is the outcome of various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis with incomplete involution of a specific process and the development of fibrous-sclerotic changes in its place. With pneumocirrhosis, the bronchi are deformed, the lung is sharply reduced in size, the pleura is thickened and often calcified.

The changes that occur during cirrhotic pulmonary tuberculosis cause the leading symptoms: severe shortness of breath, nagging chest pain, cough with purulent sputum, hemoptysis. With an exacerbation, signs of tuberculosis intoxication and bacilli discharge will appear. A characteristic external sign of pneumocirrhosis is flattening of the chest on the affected side, narrowing and retraction of the intercostal spaces. With a progressive course, cor pulmonale gradually develops. Cirrhotic changes in the lungs are irreversible.

Lung tuberculoma

It is an encapsulated caseous focus formed as a result of an infiltrative, focal or disseminated process. With a stable course, no symptoms occur; the formation is detected by X-ray of the lungs by chance. In the case of progressive pulmonary tuberculoma, intoxication increases, low-grade fever, chest pain, cough with sputum, and possible hemoptysis appear. When the focus of tuberculoma disintegrates, it can transform into cavernous or fibrous-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis. Less commonly, a regressive course of tuberculoma is observed.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of one or another form of pulmonary tuberculosis is made by a TB doctor based on a combination of clinical, radiation, laboratory and immunological data. To recognize secondary tuberculosis, a detailed history is of great importance. To confirm the diagnosis, the following is carried out:

Radiation diagnostics. X-ray of the lungs is a mandatory diagnostic procedure that allows us to identify the nature of changes in the lung tissue (infiltrative, focal, cavernous, disseminated, etc.), determine the localization and extent of the pathological process. Identification of calcified foci indicates a previous tuberculosis process and requires clarification of data using CT or MRI of the lungs.
Analyzes. Detection of MBT is achieved by repeated examination of sputum (including using PCR), bronchial lavage water, and pleural exudate. But the mere fact of the absence of bacilli excretion is not a basis for excluding pulmonary tuberculosis.
Tuberculin diagnostics. Tuberculin diagnostic methods include Pirquet and Mantoux tests, however, these methods themselves can give false results. Sometimes, to confirm pulmonary tuberculosis, it is necessary to resort to trial treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs with an assessment of the dynamics of the x-ray picture.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, pulmonary tuberculosis is differentiated from pneumonia, pulmonary sarcoidosis, peripheral lung cancer, benign and metastatic tumors, pneumomycosis, lung cysts, abscess, silicosis, and abnormal development of the lungs and blood vessels. Additional diagnostic search methods may include bronchoscopy, pleural puncture, and lung biopsy.

Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis

In phthisiatric practice, a comprehensive approach to the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis has been formed, including drug therapy, and, if necessary, surgical intervention and rehabilitation measures. Treatment is carried out in stages: first in a tuberculosis hospital, then in sanatoriums and, finally, on an outpatient basis. Regular moments require the organization of therapeutic nutrition, physical and emotional rest.

Anti-tuberculosis therapy. The leading role is given to specific chemotherapy using drugs with anti-tuberculosis activity. For the treatment of various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis, 3-, 4- and 5-component regimens have been developed and used (depending on the number of drugs used). First-line tuberculostatics (mandatory) include isoniazid and its derivatives, pyrazinamide, streptomycin, rifampicin, ethambutol; second-line (additional) agents include aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, cycloserine, ethionamide, etc. The methods of drug administration are different: orally, intramuscularly, intravenously, endobronchially, intrapleurally, inhalation. Courses of anti-tuberculosis therapy are carried out for a long time (on average 1 year or longer).

This infection has been known for a long time. Previously it was called consumption or tuberculosis. The term tuberculosis comes from the Latin word tuberculum - tubercle. The infection first became known in 1882, it was discovered by the German scientist Robert Koch, which is why Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also called Koch’s bacillus.

Characteristics of the pathogen:

The causative agent of tuberculosis adapts well to changes in living conditions and has increased viability.

MBT stability in the external environment:

When exposed to low temperatures - down to -23 ° C - the pathogen retains its viability for about 7 years.
At a temperature of 55°C it dies only after 12 hours, at 70°C - after 1 hour.
Mycobacteria are especially resistant in the dried sputum of a sick person. The pathogen dies within an hour when heated to 95-100°C.
Ultraviolet rays have a detrimental effect on MBT; to inactivate the rods, 3-5 minutes of irradiation is enough, and under the influence of direct sunlight - 4 hours. In a dark room, mycobacteria in sputum remain active for up to a year.

CAUSES

According to WHO, approximately a third of the world's population is infected with MBD. This infection is socially conditioned and primarily affects segments of the population that have a low standard of living and culture. But lately There has been an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis even among people living in satisfactory social and living conditions.

Every year, more than 1.5 million people with active forms of the disease die from tuberculosis in the world, and another 8 million patients are diagnosed every year.

In absolute terms, the rate of spread among adults is greater than among children, which is explained by a decrease in preventive measures and weakened immunity after long-term vaccination of the adult population compared to children.

The main source of infection is a sick person with an open form of tuberculosis, who releases mycobacteria into the external environment. The risk of infection from a sick person is 10 times higher than the risk of infection by other means.

Ways of transmission of infection:

Aerogenic(airborne droplets and airborne dust) is the most common route of infection. About 95% of patients get sick this way. Infection occurs during contact with a sick person who releases MBT into the environment along with saliva and sputum when talking, coughing, or sneezing. A suspension of infected biological material in the air can remain for up to 2 hours and spread over a distance of about 2 meters. When it settles on the floor or ground and dries, the airborne dust transmission route for tuberculosis is activated. This is especially true for places with large crowds of people - public transport, train stations, etc.
Nutritional- infection occurs through consumption of food from animals with tuberculosis. Most often, the source of infection is a sick cow and dairy products obtained from it without sufficient heat treatment. You can also become infected from a person with tuberculosis if personal hygiene rules are not followed.
Intrauterine- transmission of infection from mother to child. This route of transmission is quite rare.

The development of tuberculosis is facilitated by exposure to unfavorable external circumstances and a decrease in the body's resistance.

Causes contributing to infection:

Contact with MBT bacteria excretor.
Decreased immunity.
Frequent respiratory infections, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.
Stress, poor nutrition, lack of adequate sleep.
Consumption of homemade dairy products that have undergone insufficient heat treatment.
Refusal of routine vaccination.

CLASSIFICATION

The disease is classified according to its etiology and clinical symptoms.

Based on etiology, tuberculosis is divided into:

Primary type- new onset of tuberculosis, more typical for children and adolescents. It usually develops against the background of a tuberculin test and is characterized by a hyperreaction of the body to mycobacterial antigens. With this type of disease, the lymph nodes of the chest are most often affected, followed by the formation of calcifications in them - scar tissue compaction with salt deposition (Ghon's lesions). The disease responds well to treatment, and complete recovery is possible.
Secondary type- more common in adults and older people after a previous illness or when the latent course of tuberculosis is activated. It predominantly affects the pulmonary system with the formation of large foci; the course of the process is severe, malignant, often involving both lungs.

The clinical classification is quite extensive and complex. It is based on the localization of the pathological process, the severity of the course, radiological signs of damage, the presence of bacterial discharge, etc.

According to clinical forms, tuberculosis infection is divided into:

Tuberculosis of children and adolescents. Infection can occur at any age. But the peak of the disease is considered to be the interval of 10-14 years, at which time immune protection from routine vaccination decreases and the social circle of children significantly expands. Hormonal changes in the body during adolescence also help reduce overall resistance to mycobacteria.
Respiratory tuberculosis. This category contains many clinical variations depending on the severity, extent and presence of histological changes in the bronchopulmonary system.
Tuberculosis of other organs. In this case, any organs and systems of the body are affected. For example, skin, intestines, reproductive system, joints, etc.

Criteria for assessing the course of tuberculosis:

Location of the lesion and its extent.
The active phase of the inflammatory process.
Bacterial excretion.
Complications of the disease.
Residual effects after complete recovery.

Classification by category of tuberculosis patients:

Primary patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as damage to other organs. Bacterial excretion may or may not occur.
Patients in the acute stage of existing tuberculosis, as well as persons from the first group who have undergone treatment but have not received a positive result.
Patients with a primarily diagnosed infection without pulmonary manifestations, bacterial excretion or tissue destruction. This group also includes patients with indolent forms.
Patients with resistant forms of tuberculosis that cannot be treated with medications, with a chronic course of the process and its progression.

SYMPTOMS

The incubation period of tuberculosis takes from several months to six months, most often 1.5-2 months. Depending on the entrance gate of the infection and the affected organ, certain manifestations will be observed.

Tuberculosis is characterized by specific inflammation - inflammatory reactions unique to this type of disease. At the initial stages, the pathological process has similar signs to typical inflammation. As the infection progresses, specific inflammatory tissue lesions appear - tubercles (granulomas), complicated by destruction (necrosis).

The formation of granulomas is productive while maintaining the morphology of the affected tissue. When necrosis occurs, irreversible changes occur and cell death occurs.

Tuberculosis in adults

The manifestations of tuberculosis are diverse, since the infection can affect almost any organ. Symptoms of the most common pulmonary form of tuberculosis:

A sharp decrease in body weight, increased fatigue, lack of appetite.
Periodic or constant increase in body temperature to subfebrile levels - 37.5 ° C.
Increased sweating at night or in the morning.
Cough for weeks or months that does not respond to treatment.
Sputum discharge, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, debilitating cough in the later stages.
Chest pain.

X-ray examination reveals inflammatory lesions of the lungs, foci of necrosis and cicatricial changes.

As tuberculosis progresses, severe cardiopulmonary failure occurs and bleeding from the lungs.

Tuberculosis in children

Symptoms in children are similar to those mentioned above. Children with intrauterine infection, congenital diseases, and premature babies are more prone to infection. Most often in childhood, tuberculosis occurs in the following clinical form:

The disease manifests itself during the turn of the tuberculin reaction or over the next year.
Changes in the child's behavior are noted: weakness, irritability, drowsiness, lack of appetite, pale skin, periodic fever, sweating, cough.
On examination: enlarged peripheral lymph nodes, auscultatory signs of bronchitis, the presence of murmurs at the apex of the heart.
On X-ray film, you can detect signs of lung damage in the active stage and scar changes after healing, as well as areas of calcification in the thoracic lymph nodes.

DIAGNOSTICS

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to differentiate tuberculosis from other diseases that have a systemic nature and bronchopulmonary manifestations.

The main sign confirming an infection is the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the patient.

Diagnostic methods:

Chest X-ray.
Ziehl-Neelsen sputum smear bacterioscopy. If necessary, a lung biopsy is performed.
Microbiological identification of the pathogen with sputum or biopsy culture on nutrient media.
Immunological studies: PCR, ELISA.
General and biochemical blood tests. Such studies are not specific, but they can be used to monitor the level of inflammation activity and the condition of internal organs.

Of great importance for making a diagnosis is the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the patient’s family, as well as identifying contacts with tuberculosis patients.

To diagnose the incidence of tuberculosis in children tuberculin test is used(Mantoux reaction), which shows the presence of a specific reaction to mycobacterial antigens. A positive reaction indicates a turn and possible infection of the body.

TREATMENT

Treatment of tuberculosis is carried out inpatiently and exclusively in specialized anti-tuberculosis dispensaries. Management tactics and the level of restriction of social contacts are determined by the doctor, based on the severity of the disease. During the period of remission and absence of bacterial excretion possible treatment at home. On average, the duration of therapy is 1-1.5 years.

Conservative treatment:

For the treatment of tuberculosis, various regimens of several antibacterial drugs are used. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is very often multiresistant to many groups of antibiotics. Then the treatment regimen is adjusted. To select a suitable drug, a method is used to determine the sensitivity of a specific type of mycobacterium to antibiotics using bacteriological testing.
Detoxification therapy is used due to the high toxic activity of anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Immunomodulators to increase the body's resistance to infection.
Hepatoprotectors to protect liver cells from drug load.
Corticosteroids are used with caution due to their immunosuppressive effects.
Intensive vitamin therapy.

In addition to drug treatment, Enhanced nutrition with a predominance of high-calorie foods is recommended to gain lost body weight, proper rest, sunbathing. During the period of remission and recovery, sanatorium-resort treatment of the appropriate profile is necessary.

Surgical treatment

In the case of a long chronic course of the disease, the formation of massive areas of necrosis, bleeding surgical treatment recommended. The extent of the operation depends on the severity of the lung damage: from suturing bleeding vessels to removing part or all of the lung.

COMPLICATIONS

At an advanced stage, severe complications may occur:

Atelectasis is a complete collapse of the alveoli of the lungs with the inability to carry out respiratory movements.
Formation of fistulas from lung tissue into adjacent connective tissue formations.
Scar changes in lung tissue with a decrease in respiratory excursion up to fibrosis and cirrhosis of the lungs.

In addition to the above complications, acute conditions that threaten the patient’s life may occur:

pulmonary hemorrhage;
empyema and sepsis;
acute cardiopulmonary failure.

PREVENTION

Timely prevention effectively prevents the occurrence of tuberculosis.

Measures taken:

Routine vaccination of children, Mantoux test.
Timely completion of medical examinations, in particular, fluorography once a year.
Limit contact with potentially infected people.
Compliance with personal hygiene rules.
Good nutrition, normalization of work and rest.
In case of confirmed contact with a patient with tuberculosis, contact a phthisiatrician and take a preventive course of antibiotic therapy.

PROGNOSIS FOR RECOVERY

The prognosis for recovery and life depends on many factors: localization, prevalence of the process, severity of the condition, sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotic therapy, concomitant diseases, age. Considering the severity of the disease, most often the prognosis is conditionally unfavorable.

The ability to work due to the disease is lost for the duration of treatment. Even after complete recovery, there are a number of restrictions on professional activities due to the disease.

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