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Sub-Category:

Latent TB

Category: Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory System

Symptoms:
no symptoms; no signs of active disease

Root Cause:
The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis remain dormant in the body without causing active disease, but can potentially become active if the immune system weakens.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test. Chest X-rays may be normal, and sputum tests typically show no active infection.

Treatment:
Latent TB is typically treated with antibiotics to prevent progression to active TB, most commonly with a 3-9 month course of isoniazid or rifampin.

Medications:
Medications prescribed may include Isoniazid (a bactericidal antibiotic), classified as an antimycobacterial medication, or Rifampin (an antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial RNA synthesis), classified as an antitubercular drug.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Latent TB is more common than active TB; it is estimated that around 25% of the global population has latent TB.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Close contact with someone with active TB, immunocompromised states (e.g., HIV, chemotherapy), living in areas with high TB rates, and recent migration from high-burden TB areas.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper treatment, latent TB typically remains dormant, and the progression to active TB can be prevented in most cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
If left untreated, latent TB may progress to active TB, which can cause severe damage to the lungs and other organs.

Active TB

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory System

Sub-category: Tuberculosis (TB)

Symptoms:
persistent cough; hemoptysis (coughing up blood); night sweats; weight loss; fatigue; fever; chest pain

Root Cause:
Active TB occurs when the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria multiply and spread, causing symptoms and tissue damage, most commonly in the lungs.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed with sputum smear microscopy, culture, chest X-ray, and molecular testing (e.g., GeneXpert). A positive tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) may indicate latent TB or recent exposure.

Treatment:
Treatment involves a combination of antibiotics for 6-9 months, often including Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol.

Medications:
The main medications used are Isoniazid (a bactericidal antibiotic), Rifampin (an antitubercular), Pyrazinamide (a bactericidal drug that targets dormant bacteria), and Ethambutol (an antimycobacterial). All are classified as antituberculars.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
TB remains a significant global health issue with over 10 million people affected each year. It is more common in developing countries and among individuals with compromised immune systems.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., corticosteroids, chemotherapy), living in or traveling to high-risk areas, close contact with someone with active TB, malnutrition, and poor living conditions.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
If diagnosed early and treated appropriately, the prognosis is generally good, with a high cure rate. However, drug-resistant TB can complicate treatment and worsen prognosis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Complications may include drug-resistant TB, lung damage, pneumonia, pleural effusion, hemoptysis, and dissemination of TB to other organs (e.g., kidneys, bones, brain).