Can you get tuberculosis on your own?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

Updated on September 07, 2024

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This question can be interpreted in two ways. First, whether every individual could potentially contract tuberculosis (TB) – to that, the answer is yes. Tuberculosis is a contagious disease, and we are all susceptible to the TB bacterium. Therefore, there is a chance, in our lifetimes, to be infected by the TB bacterium and consequently develop TB. The second interpretation revolves around whether a person could suddenly develop TB without specific reasons. Generally, this does not happen. In other words, a typical person would not contract TB unless they have been exposed to the TB bacterium. This means one does not contract TB arbitrarily; it occurs only after coming into contact with TB patients or the TB bacterium, leading to an infection in the lungs and resulting in TB.

Other Voices

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Written by Han Jian Hua

Infectious Disease

1min 19sec

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Can tuberculosis be cured?

Early diagnosis and standard treatment can often cure tuberculosis. Tuberculosis requires anti-tuberculosis treatment. Effective anti-tuberculosis treatment must follow five principles: early intervention, proper dosage, combination therapy, regular administration, and full-course treatment to ensure thorough treatment. Consistency is crucial; one must not stop taking medication, substitute drugs, or alter dosages on their own, as doing so not only makes it difficult to cure the disease but also increases the risk of developing drug resistance and complicates treatment further. Additionally, it is important to supplement nutrition appropriately and maintain a healthy diet in daily life. Since tuberculosis is a chronic, debilitating disease, it is advisable to consume foods rich in calories, proteins, and vitamins. Ensuring adequate rest and sleep is vital. Engaging in moderate physical activities, such as outdoor exercises, while avoiding strenuous activities and factors that could exacerbate conditions, such as overexertion, exposure to cold, and catching a cold, is also important.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

2min 57sec

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How is tuberculosis diagnosed?

To diagnose tuberculosis, it's important to understand that tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also known simply as the tuberculosis bacillus. This condition affects the main bronchi, bronchi, and pleura in the lungs. In 2017, new industry standards were formulated for diagnosing tuberculosis, which can be complex for those without a medical background to fully comprehend, as the diagnostic criteria in these standards span four chapters of A4-sized papers. Generally, the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is primarily based on etiological examination, combined with epidemiology—whether the patient has a history of exposure to tuberculosis—as well as clinical manifestations and chest imaging such as X-rays and CT scans. Additional laboratory tests like pathological and immunological assessments (e.g., T-SPOT.TB skin test, Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibody, bronchoscopy) are also considered for a comprehensive evaluation. The main basis for a definitive diagnosis still lies in the results of etiological and pathological examinations. "Etiological" here refers to detecting the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through various methods, primarily bacteriological examination. This involves observing the bacteria under a microscope using samples such as sputum or pleural effusion. A positive observation confirms the presence of the bacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis can also be cultured from samples, though this process is lengthy, often taking several weeks or more. Recently, molecular biological tests, such as nucleic acid tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, have been introduced. Pathological examinations, which involve taking a biopsy from the lesion site and observing it under a microscope, can confirm the diagnosis if characteristic tuberculous changes, like caseous necrosis, are observed. However, most patients with pulmonary tuberculosis may not meet these strict criteria and are often diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, chest imaging, and supplementary tests. In such cases, most physicians will initiate a diagnostic anti-tuberculosis treatment for one month. If the patient's condition improves or stabilizes after this period, anti-tuberculosis treatment will continue. If the condition worsens or does not stabilize, tuberculosis might be ruled out, necessitating further examination.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

38sec

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How is tuberculosis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of tuberculosis primarily involves combining relevant clinical symptoms, such as whether there is cough, expectoration, low fever, night sweats, and blood in phlegm. It also requires considering the patient's chest imaging features, whether there is obvious infection, fresh exudation, cavities, as well as sputum tests. For example, if the sputum stain for acid-fast bacilli is positive, and the sputum culture is positive, using these comprehensive diagnostic methods, tuberculosis can be diagnosed, after which anti-tuberculosis treatment should be initiated.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

54sec

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What department should tuberculosis patients visit?

For tuberculosis, you can visit the Department of Infectious Diseases. Infectious diseases or respiratory medicine are suitable options, and if a hospital doesn't have these specialized departments, you can consider visiting the Center for Disease Control. In smaller hospitals, below the secondary level, where such specific departments may not be available, you might also consider seeing the Department of General Internal Medicine. General Internal Medicine or typical internal medicine departments can also handle this. However, our first recommendation would still be the Respiratory Medicine Department. Some hospitals combine Infectious Diseases with other related departments, making them the preferred choice for tuberculosis patients as these departments likely have the most experience in treating such diseases.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

35sec

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Does tuberculosis cause fever?

Does tuberculosis cause fever? Certainly, fever can occur. Fever is one of the most common clinical manifestations of tuberculosis, which can be mild or high fever. Most cases of tuberculosis mainly present as afternoon febrile flushes, or say, an evening low-grade fever. In a few cases, such as infectious pneumonia or more severe infections like tuberculous pleurisy, there can be high fever, and these fever episodes may last a long time and be recurrent, making them difficult to control.