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Pulmonary tuberculosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

TB; Tuberculosis - pulmonary; Consumption

Symptoms:

• Limited to minor cough and mild fever, if apparent
• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Coughing up blood
• Fever and night sweats
• Phlegm-producing cough

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Wheezing
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulty

Signs and tests:

Examination of the lungs by stethoscope can reveal crackles (unusual breath sounds). Enlarged or tender lymph nodes may be present in the neck or other areas. Fluid may be detectable around a lung. Clubbing of the fingers or toes may be present.

Tests may include:

• Chest x-ray
• Sputum cultures
• Tuberculin skin test
• Bronchoscopy
• Thoracentesis
• Chest CT
• Interferon (IFN)-gamma blood test. This type of test looks for an immune response to proteins produced by M. tuberculosis. In December 2004, the FDA approved the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-Gold) test as an alternate to the traditional tuberculin skin test (TST).
• Rarely, biopsy of the affected tissue (typically lungs, pleura, or lymph nodes)

References:

Ferrara G, Losi M, Meacci M, et al. Routine Hospital Use of a New Commercial Whole Blood Interferon-(gamma) Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med . 2005 Sep 1;172(5):631-5. Epub 2005 Jun 16.

US Centers for Disease Control. Treatment of Tuberculosis. MMWR 2003; 52.

Diagnostic Standards: Classification of TB in Adults and Children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000; 161.

• Review Date: 9/8/2005
• Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by Allen J. Blaivas, D.O., Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University Hospital, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/6/2004).

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