Tuberculosis

Question 1

Cause?

Answer 1

Myocubacterium tuberculosis

Question 2

Symptoms

Answer 2

Extreme weight loss
night sweats
coughing up of sputum (material from lungs with blood)
chest pain
SOB

Question 3

Incubation period?

Answer 3

several months

Question 4

Why did people call it consumption?

Answer 4

Without effective treatment, pts would often waste away

Question 5

Transmission

Answer 5

airborne

inhale minute particles of infected sputum from the air when someone who has TB coughs, sneezes, shouts, or spits

Question 6

Diagnosis

Answer 6

Chest x-ray, looking for cavities and infiltrates

Analysis of sputum

Question 7

How does the skin test work?

Answer 7

small amount of dead TB bacteria is injected under the skin

No reaction = neg

Raised and reddened area (occurs about 48-72 hours after the injection) = pos

Question 8

Vital signs

Answer 8

high BP
High R
High P
High T (fever)

Question 9

Can you spread TB while it’s still dormant?

Answer 9

Dormant = no causing, or spreading to other people

Body forms scar tissue (fibrosis) around TB bacteria, then the infection is contained in an active state

Question 10

How do we prevent latent TB from turning active?

Answer 10

antibiotic isoniazid (INH), taken 6-12 months

Question 11

How do we treat active TB?

Answer 11

combination of 4 meds for 1-2 years