WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS?
Tuberculosis is usually known as Tb, it is an infection that is caused due to bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a transmittable infection that first targets and affects the lungs and later it can spread to other organs of a human body like the brain, and spine. If a person who is already infected with TB can cause other people infected with Tuberculosis in case if they both had close contact.
TYPES OF TUBERCULOSIS
The following are the two types of Tuberculosis.
-
LATENT TB
-
ACTIVE TB
It is a type of Tuberculosis in which the symptoms are not experienced by a person. A person is unaware that his body has germs, doctors call this type of TB as latent TB because the infection is not an active disease. Your body has latent Tb infection but your immune system stops the infection from spreading to other parts of the body. Latent TB cannot be transmitted from person to person but the infection is still alive in your body and you might need treatment.
Active Tb has the germs that are active inside your body multiplies and affects the health of a person. Symptoms of active TB are obvious and a person infected with the active Tb can transmit this infection to others. If you have a weak immune system then there is a higher risk of developing active TB. Almost 90% of cases are due to the reactivation of latent TB infection in adults.
SYMPTOMS
There aren’t any visible symptoms of latent TB. A skin or blood test is carried to find it. You must visit your doctor if any of the following symptoms or signs are shown up. The symptoms of active TB include the following.
- More than 3 weeks of coughing.
- Pain in chest.
- Coughing up blood.
- Tiredness and dizziness.
- Night sweats.
- Chills.
- Fever.
- Loss of appetite.
- Loss in weight.
TUBERCULOSIS DIAGNOSIS
There are 2 tests that are performed for the diagnosis of Tuberculosis test however, both of these tests will not tell whether the infection is latent or active.
-
SKIN TEST
-
BLOOD TEST
Mantoux tuberculin is another name for this skin test. The fluid is injected in the skin of the lower arm. Results can be determined by checking the swelling in the arm after 2 or 3 days. You may be infected with this bacteria if the results are positive. Moreover, the results can be false positive.
Another name for this test is interferon-gamma release assays or IGRAs, in this test the TB proteins are mixed with the minor quantity of the blood in order to record the response. If any of these skin or blood test results are positive, then your doctor will ask for a chest X-ray or CT scan to observe the changes in your lungs.
CONTACT AWAMI LAB
Visit Awami Lab if you observe any of the symptoms of TB. Awami Lab Gujrat is the best lab for the diagnosis of Tuberculosis. All of our tests are performed in a hygienic environment and the test result reports of the diagnosis of TB are authentic that are sent to the patients as soon as possible.
