Is pulmonary tuberculosis contagious?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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The source of transmission for tuberculosis mainly comes from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, also known as bacterium-shedding patients. This is determined when tuberculosis bacteria are found in the patient's sputum. Tuberculous pleurisy, commonly referred to as tuberculous pleurisy, is not contagious. This is because the pleural effusion is confined within the pleural cavity, isolated from the external environment, and the chances of detecting tuberculosis bacteria in the pleural fluid are very low. Therefore, it is generally not contagious and there is no need for concern. The treatment duration for tuberculous pleurisy is longer than that for pulmonary tuberculosis, typically lasting 9 to 12 months. It is important to follow medical advice and complete the course of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

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Now, tuberculosis is a curable disease. Therefore, after recovering from tuberculosis, the first step in maintenance is to stay calm and not to consider oneself as a patient anymore. After recovery, one's health status is the same as before, and it is crucial to maintain a healthy mental state. Additionally, one should have a regular lifestyle, balanced nutrition; avoid overwork and staying up late; avoid smoking and drinking; actively exercise and engage in outdoor activities to enhance the body's resistance and adaptability; with changes in weather, timely adjust clothing to avoid catching cold, and actively prevent colds and so on.

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Is a shadow on the lung definitely tuberculosis?

Shadows in the lungs are primarily revealed through imaging studies, a characteristic feature found in radiology. Clinically, lung shadows can be caused by tuberculosis, various lung tumors, or inflammatory lesions, which are also detected via imaging studies. Hence, the causes of lung shadows are numerous and complex in clinical settings. Discovering a shadow on the lungs through X-ray does not necessarily indicate tuberculosis. A definitive diagnosis should be based on a detailed patient history, other relevant clinical manifestations, and additional diagnostic tests. While tuberculosis might be a likely cause of lung shadows, it is not the cause in every case.

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Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect various organs throughout the body, but pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common. Initially, symptoms typically include some signs of tuberculosis toxicity, such as prolonged low-grade fever accompanied by coughing. Sometimes the coughing is not severe and may be mild, but in some cases, severe coughing can lead to hemoptysis and other conditions. Night sweats are also common, generally presenting with afternoon low-grade fever and night sweating, along with general fatigue, loss of appetite, difficulty eating, and weight loss.

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Is the disease with symptoms of chest tightness, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and palpitations tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis can cause symptoms such as fever, night sweats, cough, and hemoptysis, and in severe cases, it can lead to chest tightness, shortness of breath, and palpitations. However, if a patient experiences shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and palpitations without symptoms like fever, hemoptysis, or night sweats, it is advisable to consider heart disease or chronic lung disease, or pneumonia leading to cardiopulmonary insufficiency. To rule out these conditions, examinations such as a chest CT and cardiac echocardiography should be conducted. Patients experiencing chest tightness and difficulty breathing are advised to seek medical attention at a hospital as soon as possible.