Tuberculosis

Question 1

How is TB transmitted?

Answer 1

Aerosols generated by expelling pulmonary and laryngeal secretions (coughing)

Question 2

Who is more at risk of catching TB?

Answer 2

Crowded living
Malnutrition
Alcohol and drug users
HIV infection

Question 3

What are the clinical features of active TB?

Answer 3

Subacute respiratory infection
Cough
Fever
Malaise
Night sweats
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
SOB
Pleurisy

Question 4

Over what period of time do symptoms of active TB develop?

Answer 4

Weeks to months

Question 5

What are the radiological features of TB?

Answer 5

CXR - pulmonary infiltrates in upper lobes or superior aspects of lower lobes, cavitation, miliary nodules

Question 6

What are the lab tests for TB?

Answer 6

Screening (latent or active) - tuberculin skin test, inferon gamma release assay
Active TB - Microscopic staining and culture, nucleic acid amplification

Question 7

What is the treatment of active TB?

Answer 7

First 2 months - Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol
Next 4 months - Rifampicin and Isoniazid

Question 8

What is the treatment of latent TB?

Answer 8

3 months Rifampicin and Isoniazid or 6 months Isoniazid

Question 9

What are the ADR for Rifampicin?

Answer 9

Orange secretions/urine

Question 10

What are the ADR for Isoniazid?

Answer 10

Peripheral neuropathy

Hepatoxicity

Question 11

What are the ADR for Pyrazinamide?

Answer 11

Hepatoxicity

Question 12

What are the ADR for Ethambutol?

Answer 12

Visual disturbance