Tuberculosis: Causes, Clinical Assessment and Treatment

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. It is caused by airborne bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are three stages of TB, namely, primary infection, latent TB, and active TB. Miliary tuberculosis is the most lethal form of TB. Older people, children under the age of four, and people with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to miliary tuberculosis. It can lead to several complications such as meningitis, Addison's disease, hepatitis, TB lymphadenitis, etc. Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) and a blood test, known as the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) are a few major screening tests for TB. Some other diagnostic tests include chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scans, and lab tests on sputum and lung fluid. TB treatments depend on the type of infection and comprise medications. This book outlines the causes, clinical assessment and treatment of tuberculosis in detail. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of tuberculosis.