Tuberculosis Flashcards
what is tuberculosis?
it is an infectious bacterial disease characterised by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs
what are the signs and symptoms of active tuberculosis?
coughing that lasts 3 or more weeks coughing up of blood chest pain pain with breathing or coughing unintentional weight loss fatigue night sweats chills
what are the most common medications to treat tuberculosis?
rifampin isoniazid pyrazinamide ethambutol (RIP(E))
what are complications of tuberculosis?
spinal pain joint damage meningitis liver or kidney problems heart disorders
describe diagnosis of tuberculosis
a positive tuberculosis skin test or a positive tuberculosis blood test only tells that a person has been infected with tuberculosis bacteria
what does a positive tuberculosis blood test show
it only tells that a person has been infected with tuberculosis bacteria
what is required to see whether a person has tuberculosis disease?
a chest x-ray and a sputum sample
what disease causes more death per year worldwide than any other single infectious disease?
tuberculosis
what is the organism that is the causative agent for tuberculosis?
mycobacterium tuberculosis
what are the common clinical presentation of tuberculosis?
cough weigh loss anorexia fever night sweats chest pain fatigue
what are the drugs tat patients should receive for the 2 month intensive tuberculosis drug treatment?
RIP(E) rifampicin isoniazid pyrazinamide ethambutol
where is rifampicin metabolised?
in the liver
where is rifampicin eliminated?
in bile and sometimes in urine
what are the side effects of rifampicin?
flu-like symptoms changes in amount of urine persistent nausea persistent vomiting stomach pain abdominal pain dark urine yellowing eyes yellowing skin
what are the side effects of isoniazid?
numbness and tingling in the extremities hepatitis nausea vomting upset stomach fever rash
what are the side effects of pyrazinamide?
an allergic reaction difficulty breathing closing of your throat swelling of your lips swelling of your tongue swelling of face fever unusual weakness or fatigue nausea vomiting loss of appetite yellow skin yellow eyes difficulty urinating painful urination painful joints swollen joints worsening gout a rash
what are the side effects of the drug ethambutol?
blurred vision, eye pain red-green colour blindness loss of vision fever joint pain numbness tingling burning pain weakness in hands or feet skin rash
what did tuberculosis treatment come around?
the 1950s
what is tuberculosis patients susceptible of?
poverty
overcrowding
malnutrition
have the number of cases of tuberculosis increased or decreased?
increased
describe the mycobacteria, the organism causing tuberculosis
it is very slow growing, it is a slow dividing organism therefore treatment is long, the cell wall of the organism is very thick which makes it very resistant to acids, alkalis and detergents
what does the activated macrophage do in the alveolus?
it will kill the mycobacteria but will also end up resulting in tissue damage
can you get tuberculosis from pneumonia?
ye
can you breathe in the bugs off someone who has tuberculosis?
yes
what is pulmonary tuberculosis caused by?
the bacterium mycobacterium tuberculosis
is tuberculosis contagious?
yes, the bacteria is easily spread from one infected person to someone else
how can you get tuberculosis?
you can get tuberculosis by breathing in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person
when does secondary tuberculosis occur?
during the 2 years following the initial infection, reactivation frequently occurs in the setting of decreased immunity and usually involves the lung apex
what are other names of post primary tuberculosis?
reactivation tuberculosis
secondary tuberculosis
what is miliary tuberculosis?
it is a form of tuberculosis that is characterised by a wide dissemination into the human body and by the tiny six elf lesions
what percentage is miliary tuberculosis present in all reported cases of tuberculosis?
2%
what is widespread dissemination of mycobacterium tuberculosis via hematogenous spread known as?
miliary tuberculosis
what is classic miliary tuberculosis defined as?
millet like seeding of tuberculosis bacilli in the lung, as evidenced on chest radiotherpay
what is meningeal tuberculosis?
when mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria travel to the meninges
what is pleural tuberculosis?
one of the most common forms of extra pulmonary tuberculosis, it usually presents as an acute illness with fever, cough and pleuritic chest pain
what is skeletal tuberculosis?
it refers to tuberculosis involvement of the bones and/or joints
what are signs of tuberculosis?
clubbing
malnutrition
alcoholism
what are essential investigations of tuberculosis?
sputum sample,
cough into a sputum pot, they will put sputum into a culture
what are the current tuberculosis treatment regimes?
4 drugs for 2 months, around 6-7 tablets
followed by
2 drugs for 4 months,
compliance is essential, tablets need to be made sure that they are taken
what is the drug treatment?
RIPE - 2 months
RI - 4 months,
that is,
rifampicin isoniazid pyrazinamide ethambutol (for 2 months)
rifampicin
isoniazid
(for 4 months)
