What is Tuberculosis?

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Tuberculosis is something that has been talked about in the news recently, and while it’s a condition you may have heard of many times before, you might not know what, exactly, it is, and who it affects. Below Dr. Ali Ghahary shares information on tuberculosis, its causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.

Tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, is a contagious infection that generally affects the lungs and airways, although it can also spread to different areas of the body such as the brain and the spine. It is caused by the bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread through the release of droplets from an infected individual. Similar to when someone is sick, if an individual infected with TB talks, coughs or sneezes, you can easily develop tuberculosis yourself if you breath in droplets containing germs. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot become infected with tuberculosis through shaking hands or sharing food/drinks, as it does not thrive on surfaces. As mentioned, tuberculosis is contagious, but it’s not necessarily easy to catch. You usually have to spend an extended period of time around an infected individual before you will develop the same condition.

Signs of an active tuberculosis disease include cough (lasting longer than 3 weeks, and sometimes you may also cough up blood), chest pain, fatigue, night sweats, chills, fever, weight loss and loss of appetite. The only way to definitively determine whether or not you have tuberculosis is through skin and blood testing. The skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid known as tuberculin into the skin on your lower arm. Following the injection of this fluid, you will be asked to return to the lab within 48 to 72 hours to see if your skin had any kind of reaction. If the test is positive your skin may appear raised, swollen, and hard; and you may require additional testing.

While anyone can develop tuberculosis, there are certain risk factors that may make you more suspectible to developing this condition. For example, if a friend, family member or co-worker has an active tuberculosis disease, if you have lived in or traveled to areas where tuberculosis is common – such as Africa, Russia, Eastern Europe or the Caribbean, or if you’re a medical professional working in a hospital or nursing home. If you develop tuberculosis, having a good immune system can help fight it, but it may be harder for you to get rid of if you have any underlying conditions – such as diabetes, kidney disease, certain cancers, low body weight, HIV/AIDS, or are on medications to treat Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis. While the risk of actually developing tuberculosis is low, there are certain things you should do if you do happen to become infected with it – and the most important thing is to make sure you’re protecting yourself and others. Always wash your hands after sneezing or coughing, avoid attending work or school (and close contact with others), and make sure your room is well ventilated as tuberculosis tends to like to spread in small, closed spaces.

If you have any questions or concerns about tuberculosis or would simply like to know more information, book an appointment with your family physician. If you don’t have a family physician, Dr. Ali Ghahary is available to see patients on a walk-in basis at Brentwood Medical Clinic on weekdays.