Tuberculosis

Question 1

What is tuberculosis?

Answer 1

TB is a communicable infectious disease, transmitted almost exclusively by cough aerosol, and characterised pathologically by caseating necrotising granulomatous inflammation

Question 2

Risk factors for TB?

Answer 2

Poverty
Malnutrition
Overcrowding, HIV/immunosuppression
Underlying chronic disease (COPD)
Poor control programmes/breakdown of health services
Alcohol/IV drug abuse

Question 3

Symptoms of TB?

Answer 3

Cough
Haemoptysis
Fever, night sweats
Weight loss
Loss of appetite

Question 4

Investigations for TB?

Answer 4

CXR
Sputum
Histology from biopsy

Question 5

What is primary TB?

Answer 5

Infection with TB with no pre-existing immunity

Question 6

What is secondary (post-primary) TB?

Answer 6

Due to reactivation of old lesions/gradual progression of primary TB into chronic form

Question 7

Primary TB signs on CXR?

Answer 7

Upper zone opacities

Question 8

Secondary TB signs on CXR?

Answer 8

Cavitation

Question 9

Treatment of TB?

Answer 9

RIPE

Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Pyrazinamide
Ethambutol

Question 10

Side effect of rifampicin?

Answer 10

Reddish colouration of urine, sweat, saliva and tears

Question 11

Side effect of ethambutol?

Answer 11

Optic neuritis

Question 12

Side effect of pyrazinamide?

Answer 12

Hepatitis and arthralgia

Question 13

Side effect of isoniazid?

Answer 13

Hepatitis and peripheral neuropathy