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Tuberculosis

Adult Tuberculosis (Adult TB)

Tuberculosis

Adult Tuberculosis (Adult TB) commonly presents as pulmonary TB, where Mycobacterium tuberculosis actively infects the lungs.

Adults often develop post-primary TB, showing cavitation, upper-lobe involvement, and stronger symptoms.
Typical features include persistent cough, chest pain, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
Adults are more likely to be contagious, making early diagnosis crucial for community safety.
With complete and consistent anti-TB treatment, adult TB is fully curable and transmission can be prevented.

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Tuberculosis

Childhood Tuberculosis (Pediatric TB)

Tuberculosis

Childhood Tuberculosis (Pediatric TB) refers to TB infection occurring in infants, children, and adolescents, often due to recent exposure to an infectious adult.
Kids usually develop primary TB, which may present with fever, cough, weight loss, poor appetite, and swollen lymph nodes.
Because children have immature immunity, TB can spread faster and lead to serious forms like miliary TB or TB meningitis.
Diagnosis is challenging, as symptoms are subtle and sputum tests are often negative; hence clinical evaluation and imaging are crucial.
With timely detection and the correct anti-TB regimen, pediatric TB is fully treatable, preventing long-term complications.

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Tuberculosis

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB)

Tuberculosis

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis becomes resistant to one or more first-line anti-TB drugs.
This resistance develops due to irregular treatment, incomplete therapy, or improper drug use.
DR-TB is harder to treat and often requires stronger second-line medications with longer treatment duration.
Symptoms are similar to regular TB—cough, fever, weight loss, and night sweats—but treatment response is slower.
Early diagnosis through drug-susceptibility testing (DST) and strict adherence to therapy is essential to prevent further resistance.

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Tuberculosis

Drug-Sensitive Tuberculosis (DS-TB)

Tuberculosis

Drug-Sensitive Tuberculosis (DS-TB) is a form of TB in which Mycobacterium tuberculosis responds effectively to first-line anti-TB drugs.
Standard treatment includes Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol.
DS-TB is the most common and easily curable type when therapy is taken regularly.
Symptoms resemble typical pulmonary TB—cough, fever, weight loss, and night sweats.
Completing the full treatment course is essential to prevent drug resistance and ensure complete cure.

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Tuberculosis

Active Tuberculosis (Active TB)

Tuberculosis

Active Tuberculosis (Active TB) occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis multiplies in the body and causes visible symptoms.
People with active TB, especially pulmonary TB, are contagious and can spread the infection through coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
Active TB reflects a weakened immune response, allowing dormant or new bacteria to grow.
Early diagnosis and a full course of anti-TB therapy are essential for cure and preventing transmission.

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Tuberculosis

Latent Tuberculosis (Latent TB)

Tuberculosis

Latent Tuberculosis (Latent TB) occurs when a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but the bacteria remain inactive in the body.
Individuals with latent TB do not show symptoms and are not contagious to others.
The bacteria stay dormant because the immune system successfully controls the infection.
Latent TB can reactivate later—especially during low immunity, stress, chronic illness, or malnutrition.
Preventive TB treatment is important to stop reactivation and protect long-term health.

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Tuberculosis

Disseminated Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Disseminated Tuberculosis is a widespread form of TB where Mycobacterium tuberculosis spreads through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to multiple organs.
It can involve the lungs, liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidneys, brain, and other tissues simultaneously.
This condition usually occurs in individuals with weak immunity, malnutrition, or chronic illnesses.
Symptoms include persistent fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and organ-specific clinical signs.
Early diagnosis and a full course of anti-TB therapy are critical, as disseminated TB can be life-threatening if untreated.

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Tuberculosis

Miliary Tuberculosis (Miliary TB

Tuberculosis

Miliary Tuberculosis (Miliary TB) is a severe, disseminated form of TB where the bacteria spread through the bloodstream to multiple organs.
It produces numerous tiny, millet seed–like nodules throughout the lungs and other tissues, visible on imaging.
Miliary TB can affect the liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidneys, brain, and the entire respiratory system.
Symptoms include persistent fever, weight loss, fatigue, breathlessness, and sometimes organ-specific signs.
It is a medical emergency, but with early diagnosis and full anti-TB treatment, recovery is possible.

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Tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB)

Tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) refers to TB infection occurring outside the lungs, affecting other organs and tissues.
It can involve the lymph nodes, pleura, abdomen, bones, joints, kidneys, spine, meninges, and even the skin.
Symptoms vary depending on the organ involved, making EPTB often difficult to diagnose without imaging or biopsy.
Risk is higher in people with low immunity, malnutrition, HIV, or chronic illnesses.
With early detection and full anti-TB therapy, most forms of EPTB are treatable and curable.

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Tuberculosis

Lobar, Segmental & Diffuse Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Lobar Pulmonary Tuberculosis involves infection confined to a single lung lobe, producing dense consolidation and classic TB infiltrates.
Segmental Pulmonary Tuberculosis affects one or more bronchopulmonary segments, often causing patchy opacities and airway blockage.
Diffuse Pulmonary Tuberculosis presents with widespread involvement of both lungs, showing multiple nodules, opacities, or miliary-type spread.
These patterns depend on bacterial load, host immunity, and airway involvement, making radiology crucial for diagnosis.
With early detection and complete anti-TB treatment, all three forms are treatable and potentially reversible, though residual fibrosis may persist

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