Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs, although it can also affect other organs and parts of the body.

Tuberculosis is a serious disease that requires proper treatment to ensure full recovery and prevent complications.

Symptoms

Tuberculosis symptoms vary and can resemble those of other illnesses, making diagnosis challenging. Some of the most common symptoms include:

persistent cough: lasts more than three weeks and is one of the most common symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. The cough may be dry at first but usually produces mucus or phlegm later
fever: a frequent symptom. Body temperature may rise in the afternoon and evening
night sweats: especially at night, are a common symptom of the disease
weakness and fatigue: constant tiredness and lack of energy
chest pain: may occur, often due to the intensity of the cough

Causes

Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also known as Koch’s bacillus. The main forms of transmission include:

inhalation of airborne particles: released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These particles can remain in the air and infect others when inhaled
close contact with an infected person: family members or coworkers of an infected person are at higher risk. This is because the bacteria are released into the air during everyday activities like talking and coughing

Diagnosis

Diagnosing tuberculosis involves a series of medical procedures, exams, and clinical tests to detect the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the body. The following methods are used:

symptom assessment: a healthcare professional conducts a detailed clinical evaluation to identify symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and weakness. The patient’s medical history, past exposures, and risk factors are also considered
physical examination: used to look for signs of the disease, such as changes in lung sounds
chest X-ray and CT scan: often performed to detect abnormalities in the lungs
sputum smear and culture or bronchoscopy samples: to check for the presence of tuberculosis bacilli in respiratory secretions
molecular testing for tuberculosis bacilli: in respiratory secretions (sputum or bronchoscopy samples)
laboratory tests: such as the tuberculin skin test (PPD) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), which can help identify latent tuberculosis infection

Treatment

Tuberculosis treatment involves a specific medication regimen that must be strictly followed to prevent the spread of the bacteria. It is divided into two main phases:

initial treatment phase: medications are prescribed to eliminate active Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. This phase typically lasts 2 months
maintenance treatment phase: after the initial phase, treatment continues to prevent recurrence. This phase usually lasts 4 to 6 months

In addition to antimicrobial treatment, it is important to follow other guidelines:

adhere to the treatment regimen: take medications exactly as prescribed, in the correct dose and frequency, and for the full recommended duration—even if symptoms disappear
have regular medical monitoring: attend follow-up visits and undergo tests such as chest X-rays to assess progress and confirm bacterial clearance
avoid alcohol and drug use: these substances can interfere with treatment and worsen the disease
maintain a healthy diet: a balanced diet helps strengthen the immune system and supports recovery

Prevention

Preventing tuberculosis involves several strategies aimed at reducing the risk of infection or transmission. Key preventive measures include:

getting the BCG vaccine: can be administered to newborns or children in areas where tuberculosis is endemic. While its effectiveness against pulmonary TB is limited, it has proven effective in preventing severe forms in children
testing and treatment: if you are at risk due to close contact with an infected person, testing is important. If diagnosed, preventive treatment may be recommended to avoid developing active TB
avoiding contact with infected individuals: take precautions to avoid close contact until the person is no longer contagious. Typically, after 2 weeks of treatment, the risk of transmission drops significantly
practicing good respiratory hygiene: cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets that may contain TB bacteria
avoiding excessive alcohol and drug use: these substances can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection