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Question: Dear Doctor, I do not have tuberculosis, but I would like to learn more about it. Could you please answer the following questions for me? (1) Tuberculosis can be caused by an infection but is tuberculosis also an infection? That is, is the infection that causes TB the same thing as TB? Tuberculosis, if not adequately treated, can be fatal. But (2) is there a form of TB that BY ITSELF can directly kill someone, and (3) is there a form of TB that is more likely to lead to some other conditions (examples please) that can directly kill the person?
Brief Answer:
Mortality in tuberculosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HCM
Tuberculosis is the infection caused by bacteria(Mycobacterium tuberculosis).
Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body.
If not adequately treated Tuberculosis is definitely fatal.
Tuberculosis by itself as the cause of increased mortality include
-Disseminated tuberculosis (Bacteria spreading to different organs) resulting in organ failure. Example: TB meningitis, TB endocarditis, hepatitis, TB pneumonia, Acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure etc
-Multi drug resistant Tuberculosis - means tuberculosis not responding to antibiotics
There are also secondary causes of increased mortality in tuberculosis patients like
-Increased risk of fungal infection like aspergillosis
-Secondary bacterial infection and pneumonia
-Medications used in the treatment of tuberculosis can cause serious side effects like liver failure.
-Increased risk of lung malignancy in tuberculosis scar tissue
-Worsening of other chronic lung conditions like Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease.
Hope this answers your questions
Please address further questions here
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Mortality in tuberculosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HCM
Tuberculosis is the infection caused by bacteria(Mycobacterium tuberculosis).
Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body.
If not adequately treated Tuberculosis is definitely fatal.
Tuberculosis by itself as the cause of increased mortality include
-Disseminated tuberculosis (Bacteria spreading to different organs) resulting in organ failure. Example: TB meningitis, TB endocarditis, hepatitis, TB pneumonia, Acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure etc
-Multi drug resistant Tuberculosis - means tuberculosis not responding to antibiotics
There are also secondary causes of increased mortality in tuberculosis patients like
-Increased risk of fungal infection like aspergillosis
-Secondary bacterial infection and pneumonia
-Medications used in the treatment of tuberculosis can cause serious side effects like liver failure.
-Increased risk of lung malignancy in tuberculosis scar tissue
-Worsening of other chronic lung conditions like Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease.
Hope this answers your questions
Please address further questions here
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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