Tuberculosis

Question 1

How can tuberculosis spread?

Answer 1

• Aerosolization
• Direct contact
• Ingestion
• Sputum

Question 2

Symptoms of tuberculosis

Answer 2

• Cough
• Haemoptysis
• Tiredness
• Weight loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Fever
• Night Sweats

Question 3

What are the risk factors for tuberculosis?

Answer 3

• Old Age/Very Young
• HIV
• Drugs
• Diabetes
• Renal Disease
• Malnutrition
• Malignancy
• Lung disease

Question 4

How can tuberculosis be diagnosed?

Answer 4

• Chest X-Ray
• CT Scanning
• Sputum culture
• Bronchoscopy lavage
• Biopsy

Question 5

How are immune cells involved in tuberculosis?

Answer 5

• Innate immunity (macrophages engulf bacteria)
• Adaptive immunity (CD8 cytotoxic/CD4 TH1 T cells, IFNy activates macrophages)
• Overproduction of TNF by macrophages can lead to tissue damage
• Granuloma contains the bacteria and immune cells with a small area of caseation necrosis

Question 6

What is the treatment of tuberculosis?

Answer 6

• Isoniazid
• Rifampin
• Ethambutol
• Pyrazinamide (multiple drugs needed to prevent resistance)

Question 7

Why may people develop drug-resistant tuberculosis?

Answer 7

• Patient interacted with someone with drug-resistant TB
• Not taking their medicine regularly
• Not taking all their medication
• Patient had developed active TB after taking TB medicine in the past
• Drug-Resistant TB is common in patient’s country