What is open tuberculosis? The danger of open tuberculosis

What is the open form of tuberculosis, how is it transmitted? This question worries many people because, despite progress in the field of medicine, the number of people suffering from this terrible disease is growing every year. But the good news is that the percentage fatal outcome from this disease has decreased compared to previous years. No one, unfortunately, is immune from open tuberculosis lungs, such a formidable and intractable disease. Many famous personalities died from this disease. Therefore, we will try to understand how the disease occurs and how it is transmitted, we will consider the stages of the disease and methods of treatment. Because forewarned means forearmed!

The whole danger is that tuberculosis in its open form can be transmitted through contact with a sick person in just a few minutes. This happens when talking, coughing by airborne droplets. The form of open tuberculosis is very dangerous. Diseased microbes found in the patient’s sputum easily enter the airspace when coughing. Therefore, people who become ill with this form should be strictly in hospitals! As long as their sputum contains harmful bacteria.

The danger is that pathogenic microbes retain their existence very for a long time. They can live even in dry form. For example, if a patient spits sputum on the ground, the germs of this sputum remain in it for a very long time. terrible disease. And people can become infected by simply stepping on it or picking up something from the ground.

In addition, these bacteria are not affected by treatment chemicals. They survive even after applying alkali to the surface. Therefore, they are difficult to kill, for example, with ordinary bleach.

Open pulmonary tuberculosis is characterized by the appearance of small bubbles and cavities on the surface of the lungs. As a result, the person begins to cough up hemoptysis. It is necessary to know the main signs of open tuberculosis.

A sick person has the following symptoms:

1. Suffocating pulmonary cough, worse at night. In this case, hemoptysis is often observed.
2. Very large volume of sputum, reaching up to 100 ml.
3. Sweating at night.
4. Body temperature is above 38.
5. Lack of appetite.
6. Rapid weight loss.
7. Pain in the chest area.
8. Severe weakness, fatigue.

Possible variants of infection

Now let's try to figure out how this disease is transmitted. Open form Tuberculosis is an aggressive form of the disease when pathogenic microbes contained in sputum and released into the air can harm other creatures. They can get on various objects. Therefore, the air in the room is contagious, as well as all objects located there! You can also become infected through utensils in public catering establishments. Places large cluster people (this could be: a cafe, transport, train station, etc.) represent great danger in terms of infection. Through cuts and wounds, infection can also occur and tuberculosis can develop.

One long, but close contact with a sick person can be more dangerous in terms of infection than many short ones. It is clear that kissing or sexual contact with a sick person is the most dangerous way of infection for healthy person. Therefore, it is extremely important to avoid casual relationships.

In order to prevent infection, entrances to TB doctors are usually located separately, or these doctors are seen in special remote dispensaries.

If the sputum no longer contains germs of the disease, then this is a closed form of tuberculosis. It is considered not contagious.

Sometimes the source of infection can be ordinary livestock. A sick animal can infect humans.

Main stages of the disease

A person infected with the bacteria of this disease can live for many years without even knowing that this infection has settled in his body. Having accidentally met a person with tuberculosis or picked up bacteria by touching objects on which they were located, a person initially does not experience anything. The infection lives in it, the immune system works to suppress the bacteria, and the disease does not manifest itself. This may be the case for several years.

Then the manifestation of tuberculosis intoxication may begin.

A person may suddenly feel:

• fever;
• weakness;
• lethargy.

He may have a slight elevated temperature. But this is not a disease yet, but allergic reaction for the virus.

Further, primary tuberculosis develops. At the site where the bacteria enters the lungs, inflammation appears. Then it is covered fibrous tissue. It absorbs calcium from the body and gradually hardens. Nodules form. This change will already be noticeable on the x-ray. This is not yet an open form of tuberculosis. Koch bacteria already live in the human body, but this has not yet manifested itself much.

Secondary tuberculosis begins when the immune system fails. This could be for many reasons. Perhaps the person had a cold, or was taking some medications that reduce immunity (for example, antibiotics). Or another infection has entered the human body. In this case, the disease develops rapidly and takes an open form.

Sometimes this stage manifests itself in low temperature, lethargy. Therefore, sometimes this condition is mistaken for a cold.

But more often the temperature rises to high numbers, a suffocating cough, and increased sweating.

In this case, it is necessary to test the sputum for tuberculosis bacteria as quickly as possible. If for some reason this procedure cannot be done, an examination method such as bronchoscopy will help.

Prevention and treatment methods

The open form of tuberculosis is treated exclusively in a hospital setting, since it is the most contagious to others and occurs in a severe form. Treatment is usually prescribed antibacterial. IN complex therapy others are also appointed various drugs, which are selected individually. Typically therapy lasts about six months. Many people are interested in the question: how long do people with this disease live? The answer is comforting. At correct diagnosis And effective treatment symptoms may disappear for a long time.

The main thing is to do the following:

• follow all doctor's orders;
• after the course of treatment correct image life without bad habits;
• increase immunity and undergo regular examinations on time.

Sick closed form may receive treatment at home but visit the doctor frequently.

Prevention includes: healthy image life, mandatory presence of fresh air, avoidance of bad habits, sufficient quantity sunlight. It is important to strengthen your immune system. It could be various ways. From taking multivitamins to daily hardening. It is very useful to carry out frequent wet cleaning of the room. Be sure to eat well. Sometimes proper diet helps speedy recovery already sick people. It is advisable to use individual dishes and avoid coughing people. It is also useful to undergo examinations and diagnostics more often. Every year it is necessary to undergo fluorography. This will help you notice the beginning changes in the lungs. Diaskintest can be performed once a year. It is freely sold in pharmacies.

If a person with tuberculosis lives in your house, you need to visit a phthisiatrician. He will probably appoint prophylactic drugs. It is necessary to regularly clean the premises using special solutions. You can call specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological station to your home.

Even if infection has already occurred, visiting a doctor will help resolve necessary measures for recovery.

Open form of tuberculosis – dangerous disease, which primarily affects the lungs and poses a threat to human health and life. The pathology is quite common and is diagnosed in people different ages, floors and social groups. The high degree of contagiousness of the disease is especially dangerous. The mortality rate from the disease is also quite high, which is often due to the late presentation of the patient for medical care.

Causes and routes of transmission

The acute form of tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs, but generalized pathology can infect any internal organ, including the brain. The causative agent of the disease is Koch's bacillus, which is resistant to disinfection with alkalis and acids. The bacterium remains active for a long time even outside a living organism (on the soil, in a sink or clothing). This is due to the high contagiousness of the disease.

Transmission of infection occurs in two ways. In airborne infections, bacteria are transmitted through saliva. This can happen when you sneeze, cough, or kiss. This way the infection spreads instantly, and infection is inevitable. Less commonly, the open form of tuberculosis is transmitted through contact and household contact, for example, through objects public use(dishes, towels and other things).

The disease is dangerous for all people, but the following categories are at particular risk.

HIV-infected. Tuberculosis develops as a complication of the underlying disease.

Doctors. Due to its professional activities they are forced to come into contact with patients, including those diagnosed with an open form of the disease. To protect yourself, you must use gauze bandage and gloves during patient contact.

Elderly people, due to a decrease protective forces the body as a result of aging and activation of degenerative processes.

Homeless people who live in constant unsanitary conditions do not receive good nutrition and medical care.

People with weakened immune systems as a result serious illness, For example, oncological pathology, diabetes mellitus, alcohol or drug addiction.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of the pathology is similar to the manifestations of some other diseases of viral etiology. Below are distinctive symptoms open form of tuberculosis.

• Constant severe cough, which intensifies during physical activity and at night. Hemoptysis is often observed, which contributes to the maximum spread of bacteria among others.
• Copious secretion of sputum with high content Koch's sticks. The daily secretion of biological fluid can reach 100 ml.
• General weakness, drowsiness and complete apathy.
• Increased sweating, which is especially acute at night.
• High temperature, which often reaches febrile levels.
• Apathy, absence vitality and loss of interest in previous hobbies.
• Sharp weight loss without changes in diet and without increasing physical activity.

In the beginning clinical picture lubricated, symptoms are practically absent. Main danger such a condition is that the patient is unaware of his pathology and continues to behave socially active image life: goes to work, shops and visits public places. This risks spreading the infection and infecting others.

The open form of the disease is characterized by the spread of infection in the upper respiratory tract. The lungs weaken, which leads to complications, most often pneumonia. The infection spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body, affecting the liver, bones, spleen and other organs. The disease progresses rapidly and can be fatal.

Diagnostics

A number of specialized tests are performed to identify the disease. They are aimed at identifying the disease at an early stage.

The Mantoux test is performed once a year. Tuberculin is injected under the skin. If after the test the size of the papule increases by more than 5 cm, this may indicate the presence of a pathogen.

The Diaskin test is an alternative to the Mantoux test. This type of research is very effective and accurate. The test is carried out to obtain more detailed information if the papule after Mantoux is in doubt.

X-ray examination of the lungs reveals fibrous compactions in the image.

For evaluation general condition the patient undergoes classical laboratory tests: general and biochemical analysis blood tests, urine tests and liver tests.

Treatment

During treatment of an open form of tuberculosis, the patient is isolated from society in specialized dispensary. This safety measure is necessary to prevent the spread of infection to others. The patient is given long-term sick leave. Without treatment, patients rarely live more than 6 months.

To prevent the spread of infection, separate utensils and hygiene products should be used. Paper handkerchiefs with biological fluid the patient is burned. Sputum must be spat into specialized containers that are tightly closed with a lid. It is strictly forbidden to spit on the ground, into a sink or a handkerchief. The room where the patient stays is constantly ventilated and disinfected.

Antibiotics are used to treat the disease. Typically, Ethambutol, Isoniazid, Rifampicin and Pyrazinamide are used. Therapy continues for at least 6 months, and in particular difficult cases The duration of the course is 2 years (for example, when tuberculosis affects several organs at the same time). To achieve maximum results, doctors combine medications.

Antibiotics that are prescribed during treatment disrupt the intestinal microflora, reduce immunity and worsen general health. After complete cure required long period rehabilitation, which includes taking pro- and prebiotics, restorative drugs and vitamin-mineral complexes.

Prognosis and prevention

With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable for life and health. The advanced form of the disease threatens the development of complications (pneumonia, brain damage, etc.), and in particularly difficult cases leads to death.

To prevent the development of the disease or relapse, it is necessary to avoid contact with people who have obvious signs pathology. You should not visit tuberculosis dispensaries unless necessary. It is important to give up smoking, alcohol and other bad habits that reduce immunity and contribute to the development of the disease. It is useful to lead a physically active lifestyle and play sports.

- a pathology in which the spread of the virus occurs, in most cases, when coughing.

When mycobacteria enter lung tissue, cell destruction begins, with the formation of deep cavities.
Without timely treatment a patient with active tuberculosis may die.

Therapist: Azalia Solntseva ✓ Article checked by doctor

Active tuberculosis is a condition in which the body's immune system is unable to fight tuberculosis bacteria, so bacterial shedding develops into the external or internal environment. Microorganisms spread through the air and usually affect the lungs, although they can also involve pathological process other organs and parts of the body.

If the body's resistance is low, for example due to aging, malnutrition, infections such as HIV, or other reasons, the bacteria become active and cause overt tuberculosis.

According to estimates World Organization Health, every year 8 million people worldwide develop active view illnesses and almost two of them die. One in ten people infected with pathogens may develop open tuberculosis. The risk of development is greatest in the first year after infection, but the form often develops many years later.

It is impossible to immediately infect an open form of the disease, since it is necessary to go through its first phase. When TB germs enter the body, they are inactive.

Dormant germs do not damage the body or cause symptoms of illness. This is called latent TB infection.

It may last for a short time or many years. When microbes become active, begin to grow and damage the body, then specific signs of pathology appear. This is called active or open tuberculosis.

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Main symptoms of pathology

Manifestations of active tuberculosis depend individual characteristics body.

The open form of tuberculosis can cause symptoms such as:

• a productive cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer;
• pain in chest;
• secretion of sputum mixed with blood.

Nonspecific signs may include:

• weakness or fatigue;
• weight loss;
• anorexia;
• chills;
• fever;
• night sweats.

These possible symptoms tuberculosis are not reliable signs diseases. Other health problems can also cause these signs. Anyone with possible symptoms of the disease should consult a doctor as soon as possible so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

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Risk of infection - how you can become infected with a pathology

How can you become infected with open tuberculosis? Anyone can get infected dangerous disorder. When someone with pulmonary tuberculosis coughs, sneezes or talks, germs can be sprayed into the air. People nearby may inhale the agents. It is impossible to contract the disease from a handshake or from food, dishes, bedding and other items. People with weaker health conditions are more susceptible to infection than others. immune system.

How can you become infected:

• abusing alcohol or drugs;
• having diabetes;
• with silicosis;
• having head or neck cancer;
• if you have leukemia or Hodgkin's disease;
• when diagnosing severe kidney disease;
• having low weight bodies;
• during certain types of treatment (eg, corticosteroids or organ transplantation);
• during the period of specialized therapy rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease.

If pathogens are in the lungs, you must be careful to protect other people from germs, as the risk of infection increases severalfold with open TB. Ask your doctor or nurse, they will tell you what you need to do to prevent the transmission of germs to loved ones and how you can become infected yourself.

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How long do people live with this disease?

Pathology does not always lead to fatal outcome. Without treatment, life expectancy can range from 5 to 30 years; how long people live with open tuberculosis depends on many external and internal factors.

First of all, the immune resistance of the body is influenced, as well as age and the presence of concomitant diseases.

You can expect to keep your job, stay with your family and lead normal life if you are sick with tuberculosis. However, you should take the medicine regularly to ensure positive results and prevent infection of other people.

After therapy there is a chance for full recovery very high, but not 100% guaranteed. There are special severe forms disorders that are practically unresponsive to most antibacterial drugs.

Therefore, the importance of following the prescribed exposure regimen cannot be underestimated. Without treatment, the disease will progress and can lead to disability and even death.

Poor prognosis for life and high risk creates smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. This increases the chance of pathology and dangerous complications two to four times. Diabetes also worsens the prognosis of the disease.

Other painful conditions that reduce the chances of recovery:

• alcoholism;
• end stage kidney disease;
• malnutrition;
• Hodgkin's lymphoma;
• chronic lung diseases.

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Open and closed form - comparison

People with latent infection do not get sick or have any symptoms. They are infected with the mycobacterium M. tuberculosis (Koch's bacillus), but do not show signs of disease.

The only confirmation is a positive reaction to a tuberculin skin test or a blood test for tuberculosis. Persons with the latent form are not contagious to others.

Overall, without treatment, 5-10% of infected people develop the full-blown form of the disease at some point in their lives. For half of them, this will happen within the first two years after infection.

In people whose immune systems are weak, especially in HIV-infected people, the risk of developing an active form of the disease is much higher than in patients with normal body defenses.

In a person with latent tuberculosis infection:

• usually a skin test or blood test result indicates an infection;
• normal chest x-ray and negative test sputum;
• tuberculosis bacteria in the body are alive but inactive;
• no symptoms;
• microorganisms do not spread to others.

In some people, bacteria overcome the defenses of the immune system and begin to multiply, which leads to progression from a closed to an open form of pathology. Some people get sick soon after infection, while others get sick later when their body's response becomes weaker.

People are considered infectious to the surrounding community. If suspected, patients should be referred for a full medical examination.

The open form of tuberculosis is very serious illness and can lead to death if left untreated. The closed form is always dangerous because a person cannot start drug therapy in a timely manner.

In an infected person with open form:

• a positive skin test or blood test result indicating infection;
• abnormal x-ray chest or positive sputum smear and culture;
• there are active tuberculosis bacteria in the body;
• multiple symptoms appear, such as cough for 3 weeks or longer, hemoptysis, chest pain, unexplained loss weight and appetite, night sweats, fever, fatigue and chills;
• spread of bacteria to others may occur;
• treatment is mandatory.

First signs of illness

Manifestations of tuberculosis usually develop slowly, over several months and years, and are often masked by other conditions. Bacteria reproduce very slowly, so symptoms of the disease also appear slowly, usually from several months to many years. Many symptoms are vague and may have other causes.

Classic manifestations of active tuberculosis are:

• malaise;
• night sweats;
• generalized body pain;
• periodic fever;
• loss of weight and appetite;
• fatigue.

From specific symptoms– the first signs of an open form of tuberculosis are persistent cough, which may have yellow or green sputum in the morning. Over time, traces of blood appear, although it large number unusual.

Cough is often thought to be related to smoking, asthma or a recent illness, but tuberculosis is often forgotten. The pathology causes increased night sweats, with the person waking up drenched in sweat.

As the disease progresses, fatigue and malaise increase, and weight loss and loss of appetite progress. Other common early phenomena are chest pain and shortness of breath. They can occur as a result of the formation of pleural effusion - the accumulation of fluid between thin membranes, which cover the lungs and inner part chest wall.

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Tuberculosis and incubation period

Microbacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis have an incredibly low infectious dose - less than 10 microorganisms to initiate disease. The bacteria have a long incubation period, ranging from two to twelve weeks with a range from fourteen days to several decades.

They have the ability to both hide and initiate an active form of the disease. Mycobacteria inhaled by the host infect the lungs and are ingested by alveolar macrophages. After that they long time may remain dormant or begin to multiply within these cells, causing an open infection.

The duration of tuberculosis incubation varies depending on individual factors risk.

According to data, within six weeks after infection, infected person develops primary infection in the lungs, which has no symptoms.

The disorder then enters an inactive phase, which can last from several weeks to several years. Incubation period may be protracted. Therefore, everyone who comes into contact with a potentially infected person has a risk of becoming infected.

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How to protect yourself from open tuberculosis

Vaccination can help protect against the disease. The infectious disease is quite common among children. BCG is provided to all infants in countries where the disease is common.

In countries such as the UK, it is recommended for those at high risk. Before vaccination, a person is given a Mantoux skin test to detect the presence of latent tuberculosis. The infection is considered the most dangerous for infants.

Prevention consists of two main stages:

• prevent the appearance of people with an active phase in crowded places;
• prevention of development active phase in people with latent tuberculosis.

How to protect yourself at home:

1. Houses must be sufficiently ventilated.
2. Anyone who coughs has a responsibility to learn breathing etiquette, respiratory hygiene, and adhere to learned practices.
3. If the smear results are positive, patients with tuberculosis should:

• spend as much time as possible on fresh air;
• sleep separately from other family members, in a well-ventilated area;
• spend as little time as possible in public transport and in places where large numbers of people gather.

Treatment of patients with a closed form of the disease is the most effective method protection against the open form of the disease.

Many people with latent infection never develop active disease.

Special group increased risk are:

• people with HIV infection;
• persons who became infected in the last 2 years;
• infants and young children;
• drug addicts;
• elderly.

If you have a hidden infection, you need to take medication.

Today, tuberculosis throughout the world is considered to be perhaps the most dangerous infectious disease, which has a certain social character throughout the world. The number of patients increases every year.

Pathogen of this disease counts Koch's wand- a bacillus that retains all its properties even in the moist environment of sputum, on objects whose surface it gets into, and in the soil. It is extremely resistant to many disinfectants, be it alkali or acid.

From the moment tuberculosis bacteria enter the human body, two options can be observed:

1. The bacteria will remain in the body and will not cause any harm to it.
2. Bacteria will multiply exponentially in the lung area, resulting in the formation of a disease.

The first option is typical for the closed form of tuberculosis, the second – for the open form.

Closed form of tuberculosis

U of this disease There may be almost no symptoms of the disease. It can only be detected by the Mantoux test reaction ( positive result), or a blood test. Today, the closed form of tuberculosis is considered one of the most common diseases.

According to medical statistics, tuberculosis bacteria are present in the body of a third of the population of planet Earth.

Characteristics of the disease:

1. Taken skin tuberculin test the patient will certainly have a positive result.
2. Patients have no signs indicating illness in the body.
3. X-ray does not reveal any changes in the lung area.
4. A sputum test gives a negative result.
5. The existing tuberculosis bacteria live in human body, remaining permanently inactive.

Let's consider mode of transmission of the disease. People become ill with the closed form of tuberculosis through the penetration of bacteria into the lungs through airborne droplets. Infectious agents found in human saliva.

A person cannot always become infected by being close to a sick person. Children are considered the most vulnerable category.

Treatment. This disease is typical for people with a low immune system. Doctors, in turn, highlight next group risk:

1. People suffering from alcoholism and malnutrition.
2. HIV-infected.
3. Cancer patients.
4. Patients with silicosis and so on.
5. Persons who use tobacco products.

With closed form of tuberculosis therapeutic measures It is most advisable to use drugs that reduce the risk of the disease. These types of medications include drugs such as rifampicin and isoniazid.

Open form of tuberculosis

The open form of tuberculosis is usually called a disease acquired by a person through direct close contact with a patient. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and household contact. The sick person in this case acts as peddler viral disease . The open form of tuberculosis is very dangerous. At the moment of coughing, sputum, saturated with bacteria, is formed in the lungs, which will subsequently be transmitted to other people.

A person suffering from an open form of tuberculosis has the opportunity to undergo treatment in a closed specialized institution - anti-tuberculosis hospital. From the moment of admission to the hospital, the patient is completely isolated from the outside world until his saliva no longer contains dangerous tuberculosis bacteria.

In connection with infection in the human body, foci of inflammation of various shapes begin to be located on the tissues of the lungs, reminiscent in their appearance tubercles. The open form of tuberculosis is often accompanied by the appearance of cavities, due to which the patient’s cough may be accompanied by profuse hemoptysis.

This disease is transmitted from a sick person by airborne droplets. The patient's saliva, coming into contact with various objects, automatically makes them infectious.

The symptoms of this form of tuberculosis are similar to many other diseases, however, it also has personal characteristics.

• Severe cough.
• Increased body temperature.
• Lethargy of the whole body.
• Sweating.

Signs of an open form of tuberculosis in a person are determined using a Mantoux test taken from a potential sick person. The person is injected with tuberculin subcutaneously and the development of the papule is monitored; if it enlarges, one can judge the presence of tuberculosis bacteria in the body.

Stages of the disease:

1. Primary – the disease develops in the lungs of people who have been in contact with a tuberculosis carrier once.
2. Secondary - tuberculosis affects large areas of the lungs, in parallel with it pneumonia begins to develop, subsequently spreading to other internal organs.

Now let's talk about treatment. The patient is asked to go to the hospital, where he will be isolated. A person with an open form of tuberculosis poses a potential threat to society. His treatment should be carried out exclusively within the walls of the hospital.

Doctors, in turn, prescribe therapy to the patient, which consists of taking a variety of medications.

Common between open and closed form

1. One causative agent of the disease is Koch's bacillus.
2. Determined by the Mantoux reaction.
3. The general mode of transmission is airborne droplets.

Difference

1. A person with a closed form is not a source of infection, as with an open form.
2. In the open form of tuberculosis, the patient has saliva saturated with tuberculosis bacteria.

– under such capacious names there are descriptions of tuberculosis epidemics that claimed thousands of lives. It is precisely the nature of the epidemic that the spread of this infectious disease can acquire at certain stages without taking emergency measures.

It is not surprising that even with the rapid development of medicine, the open form of tuberculosis requires isolation of the patient. What is more striking is that even in the 21st century active form Tuberculosis is treated according to old regimens and not always successfully. Patients with such a terrifying diagnosis would do well to find out not only the differences between open and closed forms of tuberculosis, but also whether there is a real risk of infecting their relatives.

General characteristics

Before Robert Koch's discovery of the mycobacterium that causes pulmonary tuberculosis in 1882, the disease was considered virtually incurable. The lack of specific anti-tuberculosis drugs and diagnostic methods led to the natural progression of the disease, when latent tuberculosis acquired more dangerous and contagious forms of pulmonary tuberculosis.

But even in modern conditions When there is a system of vaccination and primary prevention, the likelihood of infection is not minimized.

And there is a simple explanation for this:

• resistance of the infection itself to external influences;
• ways and means of how tuberculosis is transmitted.

Almost everyone is contagious clinical forms pulmonary tuberculosis. But to understand why the open form of tuberculosis is the most dangerous for others, you need to find out how the pathology develops.

Stages of disease development

When mycobacteria enters the lungs, a person is unaware of the infection and leads a normal life. If the immune system is able to fight off the infection, further development no disease occurs.

Otherwise, the bacteria will reliably settle in the affected tissues. Since latent tuberculosis is practically asymptomatic, a person is not aware of infection.

The latent form of tuberculosis at the first stage, when the affected area is scarred with the formation of compactions, can last from several days to 5 years.

If the infection enters the blood and affects new areas, latent form tuberculosis enters the second stage. In this case, multiple lesions are formed.

A person can live for several years without knowing that he has a closed form of tuberculosis. Even at this stage, no isolation of mycobacteria occurs, since the infection is contained in closed capsules.

It turns out that closed tuberculosis is dangerous for the carrier of the infection, but does not pose a threat to others. The closed form of tuberculosis can progress, affecting not only the lungs, but also other organs and bones. In this case, inactive tuberculosis enters the third progressive stage, when specific symptoms begin to appear.

Is it possible to become infected from a patient at this stage? IN medical terminology There is no such thing as a closed form of tuberculosis. When such a disease is detected, a diagnosis of TB form or BC form is made. This confirms that infectious mycobacteria are not excreted in sputum or released into the air. It turns out that the closed form of tuberculosis does not pose a threat to others, but is dangerous for the patient himself. First of all, this is due to the complexity of diagnosis and the lack of specific symptoms.

At any moment, capsules with pathological particles can rupture, and closed-form tuberculosis moves to a new stage. Mycobacteria penetrate the bronchi and become saturated with sputum. The patient becomes not just a carrier of infection, but a direct threat to loved ones.

And this is due to how open tuberculosis is transmitted. The infection enters with sputum environment, for household items. Therefore, this stage is considered contagious and dangerous form diseases.

Methods of transmission of tuberculosis

Mycobacteria are transmitted by airborne droplets. That is, a patient with an open form of pulmonary tuberculosis, when talking, sneezing, coughing, releases sputum laden with infection into the environment.

It is important for your loved ones to know how you can become infected. Considering that the infection is transmitted through contaminated sputum, all household items and personal belongings of the patient pose a threat.

Kissing, direct contact, sharing utensils, finishing smoking cigarettes - all this can cause infection. Even if sputum gets on the soil or floor, the bacteria do not die. Once the sputum dries, dust particles become infected. When inhaling such dust, a person can become infected with open or closed tuberculosis.

Children, elderly people, and loved ones with weakened immune systems most often suffer, since their defenses are not enough to defeat tuberculosis infection on one's own.

Also at risk are:

• doctors who have close contact with tuberculosis patients;
• people leading an antisocial lifestyle;
• prisoners of prisons, pre-trial detention centers;
• low-income segments of the population;
• heavy smokers:
• infected with AIDS;
• diabetics and cancer patients.

But even in such categories of patients, the open form of tuberculosis is diagnosed immediately after infection quite rarely. Usually the disease goes through all the standard forms of pulmonary tuberculosis. And only when specific symptoms appear that clearly confirm the presence of open tuberculosis, the patient seeks help. During this time, he manages to infect others.

How does open tuberculosis manifest?

Signs of the open form of tuberculosis are in many ways similar to the symptoms of other infectious diseases affecting the respiratory system.

Patients are concerned about:

• increased fatigue and causeless weakness;
• heavy sweating;
• cough of varying intensity;
• temperature rise.

This symptomatology is quite similar to the manifestations of various colds. Therefore, the patient begins to be treated independently with known medications and folk remedies.

A characteristic sign of tuberculosis is hemoptysis. But this state is recorded already at advanced stages.

To detect infection, test methods for diagnosing tuberculosis are used as primary and mass methods. For individual examinations, fluorography, bronchoscopy, and sputum examination are most often used. Various shapes secondary tuberculosis with bone damage, internal organs, meninges require specific examinations.

How is the open form treated?

After confirmation of the diagnosis, most patients begin to panic or simply give up. They worry about their loved ones, relationships with friends and colleagues. And most of all they worry about how many people live with this diagnosis.

First of all, you need to understand that tuberculosis can be treated even in its open form.

There is an accelerated course of anti-tuberculosis treatment that corresponds to international standards and is carried out under the direct supervision of physicians.

The DOTS program allows tuberculosis patients not only to overcome the disease, but also to return to normal life.

Treatment of the open form of tuberculosis is selected on an individual basis, since not only the stage of the disease is taken into account, but also the presence of associated, complicating factors.

Taken into account:

• extent of the lesion;
• the presence of non-pulmonary forms;
• HIV status;
• other diseases that reduce immune defense.

Typically, the attending physician prescribes first-line drugs, which include:

1. Capsules or tablets Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol.
2. Streptomycin injections.

The intensive phase of treatment can last from 2 to 3 months. If there is no effect, the therapy is adjusted after 1 – 1.5 months.

Subsequently, they move to the maintenance phase using second-line drugs:

1. For oral tablets Prothionamide, Cycloserine, Ethionamide.
2. For intravenous administration Amikacin, Kanamycin, Vomitsina.

The duration of therapy can be 4–6 months.

The dosage of drugs is selected individually, taking into account the patient’s age and weight.

If treatment is interrupted independently without the permission of doctors, the disease takes on a chronic, intractable form. At stable form It is quite difficult to choose medications and determine the duration of therapy. Treatment often drags on for years.

Important! Regardless of the stage and form of tuberculosis, treatment is carried out exclusively under medical supervision.

If there is a contagious open form, the patient is isolated, at least for the duration of the active phase of treatment.

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PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS. Why is it dangerous? How do they get infected? Symptoms and mortality!

Primary and secondary prevention

Methods of primary prevention include methods of mass vaccination and tuberculin tests. But such methods are relevant for preventing and early infection.

After 15–18 years, mass testing stops. Therefore, a person who has especially close contact with tuberculosis patients or lives in pandemic regions should take care of periodic examinations himself.

To the ways early diagnosis This also includes annual fluorography. However, people who do not undergo routine medical examinations or do not seek emergency medical care do not consider it necessary to take an x-ray on their own initiative.

For people living with a person with tuberculosis, the following ways to prevent infection are relevant:

• The patient must have his own utensils and individual means hygiene;
• The premises must be regularly wet cleaned using disinfectants. Moreover primary processing must be carried out by a sanitary station.
• It is also important to ventilate the room and get rid of dust in carpets, upholstered furniture, pillows, and mattresses.
• The patient is recommended to use disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing, which are then burned.

An important factor in preventing infection is strengthening the immune system.

Therefore, increased nutrition, walks in the fresh air, adherence to work and rest schedules are prescribed not only to the patient, but also to his family members.

It is advisable for everyone living and in close contact with the infected person to undergo it.

Moreover, it is necessary to repeat the diagnosis through certain time, as well as in urgently when specific symptoms appear.

For people who have cured tuberculosis, all methods of primary prevention are relevant. These include periodic examinations and giving up bad habits.

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