Tuberculosis

under construction...

Labs:

-The immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is mediated by T lymphocytes.

-The correlation between CRP concentrations and viable counts of tubercle bacilli isolated from sputum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, though statistically significant, is weak.

- Increased neutrophyls

- Inncreased ESR

- Decreased RBC

- Decreased lymphocytes

- Decreased Calcium and Sodium

- Decreased albumin, decreased protein levels, decreased globulins.

Chest x-ray:

In active pulmonary TB, infiltrates or consolidations and/or cavities are often seen in the upper lobes with or without mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy or pleural effusions ( tuberculous pleurisy). However, lesions may appear anywhere in the lungs. In disseminated TB a pattern of many tiny nodules throughout the lung fields is common - the so called miliary TB. In HIV and other immunesuppressed persons, any abnormality may indicate TB or the chest X-ray may even appear entirely normal.

Abnormalities on chest radiographs may be suggestive of, but are never diagnostic of, TB. However, c

hest radiographs may be used to rule out the possibility of pulmonary T

B in a person who has a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test and no symptoms of disease.

Cavitation or consolidation of the apexes of the upper lobes of the lung may be discernible by a chest x-ray.

Links:

http://www.learningradiology.com/lectures/chestlectures/TBppt_files/v3_document.htm

(Text main source: wikipedia.org)

(Images: wikipedia.org, google images)