What Parents Need to Know About Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, also known as TB is labeled as the most feared disease of the 19^th century, ranking as the eighth most fatal disease among children one to four years of age in the 1920s until it subsided in the '60s.  This disease is caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a type of pathogen which finds the human lungs a habitat conducive for multiplication.

Tuberculosis is an airborne infection that can easily spread through the respiratory droplets produced in the air by an infected person by coughing or sneezing. Infection may vary from one person to another. Some may not immediately show any symptoms of being infected while others may become sick right away, according to Bundoo.

Since the TB symptoms are inconsistent, PPD, Purified Protein Derivative skin test also known as the Tuberculin test is necessary to test whether a child has been infected and in need of immediate medical treatment.

LTBI or Latent Tuberculosis Infection is the type of tuberculosis most common to children and infants. Mostly detected only through Tuberculin Test, LTBI can be dealt with by the strengthening of the immune system and usually resolves in six to ten weeks. However, failure to eliminate this type of TB may lead to a worse condition called the Progressive Tuberculosis wherein the infection spreads not only throughout the lungs but to other organs as well.

Reactivation Tuberculosis is a type of TB mostly found in older children and adults. This is often the outcome of previous exposure to the bacteria but failure to completely eliminate the primary infection. Weak immune system usually becomes an avenue for this type of Tuberculosis to reactivate.

Fever, sweating, fatigue and weight loss are the most common signs of Tuberculosis. Mucus or phlegm containing blood, on the other hand, is an indication that the infection has progressed and cavities are beginning to form in the lungs.