TUBERCULOSIS
TB is a notifiable, infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, but can occur anywhere in the body. TB is spread to other people by air droplets when they spend a cumulative period of at least 8 hours or more with a person who is ill with TB and usually coughing.
The most common symptoms for TB are:
- Prolonged cough (3 weeks or more)
- Coughing up blood
- Fever and night sweats
- Weight loss
- Lethargy and unusual sense of tiredness and being unwell
A third of the world’s population are infected with the TB bacterium, however not all of these people will develop TB disease, but are at greater risk of developing TB at any time in their life. There has been an increase in the UK of TB by 27% since the 1980’s as a result of increased global population mobility, HIV infection and poor TB control measures in developing countries. There were 8,500 new cases in 2006 in the UK; London accounted for 40% of these; majority of cases occurred in the 15 – 44 yr old group and 72% were non-UK born.
If TB is suspected or confirmed the patient is managed by a specialist TB team. Tests undertaken include chest X-ray, examination of phlegm samples, blood tests and if necessary, detailed scans or surgical biopsy. Confirmation of TB can be made if a culture is grown under laboratory conditions.
TB is a bacterial infection that can be treated by six months of antibiotics which are provided free of prescription charge. The specialist TB team must supervise the patient, as it is essential that the full course of treatment be completed to ensure serious complications such as the development of organisms resistant to antibiotics do not occur. Once the patient has had 2 weeks of treatment they can be considered not to be infectious to anyone else.