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Definition of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, pulmonary tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infection that is primarily found in the lungs. The infection is contagious and, if not treated, may spread to other parts of the body or to other people. It is caused by the bacteria M. tuberculosis, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the United States, pulmonary tuberculosis is relatively rare.

  1. Identification

    • Pulmonary tuberculosis is spread by inhaling the droplets produced when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Although the infection is usually found in the lungs, it has the ability to spread to other organs of the body. Once the infection is acquired, it can exist in a dormant phase for several years. When someone shows symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, they typically had acquired it years ago.

    Features

    • Infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for acquiring pulmonary tuberculosis. Poor nutrition and crowded living conditions also increase the risk. According to MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, rates of pulmonary tuberculosis infection vary according to socioeconomic class and area of residence.

    Effects

    • According to MedlinePlus, symptoms are not always present in the primary stage of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, some patients experience symptoms such as coughing up blood, fatigue, fever, excessive sweating, breathing difficulties and unintentional weight loss.

    Considerations

    • Physicians perform tests to confirm the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis. These tests may include a CT scan of the chest, a chest x-ray, blood tests, skin tests or a bronchoscopy--a procedure in which the breathing passages are examined. If pulmonary tuberculosis is suspected, you will likely need to stay in the hospital to avoid infecting others.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Pulmonary tuberculosis can usually be treated with a combination of drugs designed to fight the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis. The treatment is continued until lab tests confirm the infection is no longer present. The treatment typically takes six months, although it can vary from patient to patient. In the United States, the chances of recovering from pulmonary tuberculosis are high.

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