Human Pathogen Project by Johnson, Lasonja (lrjohnson04)

Tuberculosis Symptoms

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:08:19 UTC

Symptoms of active TB include persistent coughs with blood or mucus, chest pain, fever, body aches, night sweats, loss of weight and appetite, and fatigue. These symptoms are most common with pulmonary TB which mean its in the lungs. If the disease spreads to other parts of the body (extrapulmonary TB), symptoms will depend on the affected area. For example, Tuberculosis in the spine can cause back pain and TB in the kidneys might cause blood in the urine.

How its Acquired

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:11:52 UTC

Tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sing. You breathe in the TB bacteria if you're in close contact with an infected person. People can also carry latent TB, but they cant spread it unless it become active.

Name of Disease

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:20:01 UTC

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that primarily affect the lungs, but can also impact the brain, kidneys, spine, and other organs. TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Not everyone infected with the TB bacteria becomes sick, some develop latent tuberculosis. This is when the bacteria remain in the body but inactive and non-contagious. Without treatment, tuberculosis can become deadly, especially in people with weak immune systems. Regular screening is important for early detection and control of the disease.

Treatment

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:38:29 UTC

Tuberculosis is treated with a combination of antibiotics in six to nine months. The most common drugs are INH, RIF, PZA, and EMB. The standard treatment has two phases. The intensive phases where you use all four drugs, and the continuation phase where you only use the Isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF). Directly observed therapy is commonly used to make sure patients take their medicine daily and complete their treatment. There will be side effect like liver damage, nausea, or vision problems. Not finishing the treatment can lead to relapse and drug resistance.

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:38:46 UTC

Name of Pathogen

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:38:59 UTC

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a rod-shaped bacterium that primarily infects the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body. This pathogen has a waxy cell wall made of mycolic acid, which makes it resistant to many antibiotics and immune system responses. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an obligate aerobe, meaning that it requires oxygen to survive which is why it commonly affects the lungs. It can remain dormant in the body for years without causing symptoms until the immune systems is weakened. The bacterium is non-motile and does not form spores.

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:39:15 UTC

Prevention

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:39:26 UTC

Vaccination: The BGC vaccine helps prevent severe forms of TB in children
Avoid Exposure: Wear masks and limit close contact with people
Early Testing & Treatment: If you've been around something with TB, get tested immediately. Treat Latent TB with medication before it become active.
Complete the Treatment: If your diagnosed with TB, take all the medications as prescribed
Good Hygiene: Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Eat healthy and manage stress to keep your immune system strong.

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:41:21 UTC

lrjohnson04 — 2025-04-21 19:44:46 UTC