What is latent tuberculosis?

Latent tuberculosis is a term used to describe a condition where people have a germ of tuberculosis in their body, but have not yet developed diseases. Unlike fully blown tuberculosis, this condition is not contagious, even if it is an infection. In most cases, it does not develop active tuberculosis.

to determine whether a person has tuberculosis, the most common means of diagnosis is the skin test. In this test, bacteria of tuberculosis are injected directly under the skin. This is usually done on the inner arm because this area of ​​the skin is usually the most sensitive. If the site develops small red bumps within 48 hours, it generally means that a person has been or has been exposed to illness. In order to determine whether the disease is active or latent tuberculosis, further testing, such as mucus cultures and X -rays, is usually required.

Latent tuberculosis is not active most of the time. It is estimated that fewer than 10% of latent cases develop on active bullshit. People who have positively tested on latent tuberculosisU, they should probably pay special attention to any symptoms developed. Symptoms of active tuberculosis infection usually include annoying cough, low degree temperature and noticeable weight loss. Some people, even if the disease is active, show no symptoms at all.

Latent tuberculosis has no symptoms that require treatment; However, doctors may prescribe drugs against tuberculosis. In many cases, this medicine can maintain this disease in the infection phase and will not be active. This type of medicinal therapy usually lasts only about six months, but usually requires ongoing checks.

If latent tuberculosis does not develop in an active case, this is not considered particularly dangerous. If it becomes active, there are many treatments available. Most of the time, doctors will reduce the activity of patients with tuberculosis because they often become physically weak. In addition, a limited activity is sometimes required due to the inferiorthe nature of the disease. In medicinal therapy, isoniazide is one of the commonly prescribed drugs.

Sometimes latent tuberculosis is activated into a more serious type of disease. This type of tuberculosis is called "Tuberculosis resistant to medicines". Although the exact reason is unclear, this type of tuberculosis is extremely resistant to drugs. Once, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the occurrence of this type of tuberculosis is constantly increasing. In 2010, the WHO reported that one of four cases of tuberculosis was a variety resistant to drugs.