TB or tuberculosis is an infectious disease mainly of the respiratory tract caused by an atypical bacteria called as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although it affects mainly the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract, but it can also affect the other organs of the body. For example tuberculosis of the spine and intestinal tuberculosis are other forms of tuberculosis.
There was a time when tuberculosis was considered as an untreatable disease. But with the advancements in research, studies and pharmacological development, it is completely treatable. It was previously called commonly as consumption disease because it caused major weight loss.
Signs and Symptoms of tuberculosis or TB
As mentioned earlier, the most common form of tuberculosis is respiratory or pulmonary tuberculosis. It causes excessive productive cough that occurs mostly at night, fever is mostly low grade, night sweats and most importantly the loss of weight.
Other signs and symptoms of TB depend upon which organ they are affecting.
Tuberculosis is a high contagious disease and spreads through contact. So, it is necessary to treat a patient of TB and make him completely free of bacteria.
Diagnosis of TB
Treating a TB patient requires timely diagnosis. Most of the times, in under-developed countries or areas of low income and literacy, the incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis are high along with other diseases showing similar signs and symptoms. So, many a time it becomes difficult to make the diagnosis of TB mere on a clinical basis.
Diagnostic tests for TB
Some of the diagnostic and screening tests for tuberculosis are as under;
- Chest X-ray
- Sputum cultures for acid fast bacilli
- Monteux test (for screening of TB)
TB test report
TB test report is done especially in the area where there are high suspects of tuberculosis. It is used by a lot of organizations for detection and treatment of tuberculosis. A number of under developed countries have made the diagnosis and treatment of TB free of cost in order to eradicate the disease from the face of earth for good.
This form is also useful in the reporting of Tuberculosis and helps in starting a 6 months long treatment of the disease.
How this form is filled? Let’s discuss that in a bit of detail.
- On the top most portion of the form, name of organization and its address is mentioned. Sometimes, the printed forms come with the name of organizations already printed on them. So, you can move over to the next section of the form directly.
- Name and address of the TB patient is very important for follow up and check the status of their compliance.
- Then there are two screening and diagnostic tests are written. You have to mention you conducted which test and skipped the other for what reason. Usually, the intra-dermal screening test is done after the X-Ray findings are suggestive of TB.
- Date of the test when conducted and the results of the tests are also mentioned.
- The physician then signs the report declaring if the person has been diagnosed with Tb or not.