Tuberculosis, despite advances in medicine,continues to be the most common infectious disease. According to the data, about 4 million people worldwide die of it every year. With timely medical intervention, the disease is treatable. In this article, we will talk about the causes and symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults today.
How can I get infected?
This disease is not hereditary, that isIt can not be obtained from parents even if they are sick. Tuberculosis is spread only by infected people by airborne droplets. If a person with a cough or a sneeze sneezed near you, there is a risk that the infection will get to you in the body. But getting a bad one is possible if you inhale bacteria for a long time. Getting into the human body, Koch's wand (the so-called infection that provokes tuberculosis) can either be destroyed by the immune system, or it settles in the lungs. In the latter case, the bacterium will wait for a suitable moment, when it will be possible to attack the organ, this can happen during the weakening of the protective functions of the body, that is, during any illness. The stage when Koch's wand is in the lungs, but does not perform any actions, is called infection. To determine that a person is sick is almost impossible, since no symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults are manifested.
How to recognize the ailment
As mentioned earlier, in healthy people with a properly functioning immune system, the symptoms of the disease may be absent. The following are the general symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults:
- A rise in body temperature in the evening and night hours. The peculiarity is that the numbers rarely exceed the level of 38 degrees.
- Rapid pulse. It arises under the influence of toxins on the heart muscle.
- Cough. May be dry or wet, depending on the phase of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is necessary to consult a doctor if a coughing torment you at night for more than three weeks.
- Painful sensations in the chest when coughing and breathing.
- Dyspnea.
- Increased sweating.
- General weakness of the body, fast fatigue, nausea, headaches, apathy, decreased or total lack of appetite, causeless weight loss are all symptoms of tuberculosis of the lungs in adults.
Who can get sick?
The risk group includes:
- refugees and emigrants;
- homeless people;
- former prisoners;
- people living in shelters and in homes for the elderly;
- patients of psychiatric and narcological clinics;
- people suffering from diseases that weaken the immune system;
- patrons of polyclinics who have chronic diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
From year to year, according to the World Organizationhealth, the number of tuberculosis cases is growing. The success of the treatment will depend on the stage of the patient's treatment. The mild form of tuberculosis is effectively eliminated, but if the disease is significantly neglected and the lungs are affected, then a fatal outcome is possible.
