0.1 Health education course, chapter 2 - children and disease  (Page 2/4)

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, slow-growing bacteria that can thrive inareas of the body with plenty of oxygen and blood flow, such as the lungs.

About 85% of people in the United States with TB have the disease in the lungs (pulmonary TB). Tuberculosis also can spread to otherparts of the body (extrapulmonary TB), but this is relatively uncommon.

Tuberculosis is classified as latent TB infection or active TB disease.

Latent TB infection

A latent TB infection occurs when TB-causing bacteria are in the body but there are no signs or symptoms of TB. When the bacteriaenter the lungs, the body's immune system fights the infection by walling off the bacteria into tiny capsules called tubercles. In about 90% of peopleinfected with TB, the immune system succeeds in encapsulating the bacteria, and there are no symptoms.

People who have a latent infection cannot spread the bacteria to other people but are at risk of developing active TB disease.Only a skin test can detect latent TB infection.

Active TB disease

Active TB disease occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis is found in the body and there are signs or symptoms of TB. About10% of people infected with the bacteria will develop active TB disease. People who have active disease sometimes have few symptoms and may assumeanother, less serious problem is causing them. Symptoms of active TB include a persistent cough that brings up thick, cloudy, and sometimesbloody mucus (sputum) from the lungs. Other symptoms that may occur include weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, and fever.

People who have active TB disease can spread the bacteria to other people. If left untreated, active TB can damage the lungsor other organs and possibly cause death.

Doctors use a combination of antibiotics (multiple-drug therapy) to treat active TB, whether it occurs in the lungsor elsewhere. People who have a latent TB infection are treated with one or more antibiotics to prevent the infection from developing into activedisease and to reduce the chances that complications will develop. Virtually all people who take their medications as prescribed are cured.

Meningitus

Meningitis

Topic Overview

Meningitis is an infection of the tissues (meninges) and sometimes the fluid (cerebral spinal fluid) that surrounds the brainand spinal cord. Meningitis results in swelling of the brain tissue and, in some cases, the spinal tissue (spinal meningitis). When brain tissueswells, less blood and oxygen reach brain cells, producing symptoms such as fever, severe headache, and stiff neck.

Meningitis usually is caused by viruses or bacteria. Rarely, organisms such as fungi or parasites or a reaction to a medicationcan cause meningitis. The infection also can develop as a complication of another illness, an injury, or brain surgery. Sometimes, the cause is notidentified.

Meningitis occurs most often in infants, young adults between ages 15 and 24, older adults, and people who have long-standinghealth conditions. The illness can range from mild to life-threatening. The severity usually depends on the organism causing the infection and aperson's age and overall health.