What Are Common Tuberculosis Symptoms And Treatments

Symptoms of Tuberculosis
Only about 10 percent of those infected with TB develop the disease. The first symptoms of an active case of TB may be so commonplace that they are often dismissed as the effects of a cold or flu. The individual may get tired easily, feel slightly feverish or cough frequently. It usually goes away by itself, but about in about half the cases, it will return.

For people who have the disease, TB can cause lung or pleural (the lining of the lung) disease or it may spread through the body via the blood. Often people do not seek the advice of a doctor until they have pronounced symptoms, such as pleurisy (a sharp pain in the chest when breathing deeply or coughing) or the spitting up of blood. Neither of these symptoms is solely of tuberculosis, but they should not be ignored. Other symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, weight loss and night sweats.

About 15 percent of people with the disease develop TB in an organ other than the lung, such as the lymph nodes, GI tract, and bones and joints.

Treatment of Tuberculosis
With treatment, the chances of full recovery is good. Although several treatment protocols for active TB are in wide use by specialists, and protocols sometimes change due to advanced in our understanding of optimal therapy, they generally share three principles:

1. The regimen must include several drugs to which the organisms are susceptible.

2. The patient must take the medication on a regular basis.

3. Therapy must continue for a sufficient time.

Also, treatment recommendations are subject to change depending upon both the characteristics of the particular organism being treated and newer advances in therapeutic agents. Thus, consultation on treatment strategies with local public health and infectious disease experts is always advisable.

Isoniazid (INH) is one of the most common drugs used for TB. Inexpensive, effective and easy to take, it can prevent most cases of TB and, when used in conjunction with other drugs, cure most TB. INH preventive treatment is recommended for individuals who have:
close contact with a person with infectious TB
positive tuberculin skin test reaction and an abnormal chest x-ray that suggests inactive TB
a tuberculin skin test that converted from negative to positive within the past two years
a positive skin test reaction and a special medical condition (for example, AIDS or HIV infection or diabetes) or who are on corticosteroid therapy
a positive skin test reaction, even with none of the above risk factors (in those under 35)