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The treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is essential to controlling and eliminating TB by reducing the risk that TB infection will progress to disease. Latent tuberculosis will convert to active tuberculosis in 10% of cases (or more in cases of immune compromised patients).
Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, [7] is a contagious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. [1] Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs , but it can also affect other parts of the body. [ 1 ]
Most people affected by TB do not have symptoms, and the disease is not active. This is called latent tuberculosis. [1] However, about 10% of latent infections progress to active disease, which, if left untreated, kills about half of those affected. [1]
Of 200 immigrants tested for tuberculosis over the last year, 8 in 10 had the latent — that's to say, not contagious — version of the disease.
Other parts of the medical history include prior TB exposure, infection or disease and medical conditions that increase risk for TB disease such as HIV infection. Depending on the sort of patient population surveyed, as few as 20%, or as many as 75% of pulmonary tuberculosis cases may be without symptoms. [2]
But around 5% to 10% of latent cases develop into active disease if they’re left untreated. Treatment for tuberculosis usually consists of antibiotics taken daily or weekly for a period of months.
Peritoneal tuberculosis: Peritoneal tuberculosis most often presents as abdominal pain and ascites. It can occur most commonly following re-activation of a latent focus of tuberculosis. [3] Intestinal tuberculosis: Tuberculosis of the intestine can affect multiple areas of the bowel simultaneously. The bacilli penetrate the mucosa, cause ...
Some individuals may be infected with the tuberculosis mycobacterium but never display symptoms. [27] Called latent tuberculosis, these cases, while uncontagious, are particularly problematic from a public health perspective, since approximately 10% of those diagnosed with latent TB will go on to develop an active (and contagious) case. [27]