Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that causes TB are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air through coughing and sneezing.
Causes
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
These bacteria are spread when a person with active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes and another person inhales the exhaled droplets, which contain the TB bacteria.
Although TB is spread in a similar way to a cold or flu, it is not contagious.
Must have had a long time (several hours) in close contact with an infected person to catch it on their own.
For example, TB infection usually spreads between family members who live in the same household.
Not all people with TB are contagious. Children with TB or people with TB infection that occurs outside the lungs (extra-pulmonary TB) do not transmit the infection.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get TB, but certain people should be tested for TB infection because they are at higher risk for being infected with TB bacteria, including:
Symptoms
Although the body can harbor the bacteria that cause TB, the immune system can usually prevent getting sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
Causes
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
These bacteria are spread when a person with active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes and another person inhales the exhaled droplets, which contain the TB bacteria.
Although TB is spread in a similar way to a cold or flu, it is not contagious.
Must have had a long time (several hours) in close contact with an infected person to catch it on their own.
For example, TB infection usually spreads between family members who live in the same household.
Not all people with TB are contagious. Children with TB or people with TB infection that occurs outside the lungs (extra-pulmonary TB) do not transmit the infection.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get TB, but certain people should be tested for TB infection because they are at higher risk for being infected with TB bacteria, including:
- People who have spent time with someone who has TB disease
- People from a country where TB disease is common (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia)
- People who live or work in high-risk settings (for example: correctional facilities, long-term care facilities or nursing homes, and homeless shelters)
- Health-care workers who care for patients at increased risk for TB disease
- Infants, children, and adolescents exposed to adults who are at increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection or TB disease
Symptoms
Although the body can harbor the bacteria that cause TB, the immune system can usually prevent getting sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:
- Latent TB. Have a TB infection, but the bacteria in the body are inactive and do not cause symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, is not contagious. Latent TB can turn into active TB, so treatment is important.
- Active TB. Also called tuberculosis, this condition is painful and, in many cases, can be spread to other people. This can occur weeks or years after a TB bacterial infection.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
- Coughing for three weeks or more
- Coughing up blood or mucus
- Chest pain, or pain when breathing or coughing
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
Nursing Diagnosis for Tuberculosis (TB)
1. Ineffective airway clearance
related to :
- Thick, sticky and bloody secretions.
- Fatigue and less coughing effort.
- Tracheal/larynx edema.
2. Impaired gas exchange
related to the presence of risk factors:
- Reduced lung surface effectiveness, atelectasis.
- Damage to the alveolar capillary membrane.
- Thick secretions.
- Bronchial oedema.
3. Risk for infection and spread of infection
related to:
- Decreased body resistance, decreased ciliary function, persistent secretions.
- Tissue damage due to infection spread.
- Low resistance / resistance to infection.
- Malnutrition.
- Contaminated by the environment.
- Lack of knowledge about bacterial infections.
4. Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements
related to :
- Weakness.
- Frequent cough, sputum production.
- Dyspnea.
- anorexia.
- Financial/cost reduction.
5. Knowledge Deficit (hygiene needs), about conditions, treatment, prevention,
related to :
- No explanation, wrong interpretation, limited knowledge/cognitive, inaccurate, incomplete information obtained.
