Latent tuberculosis
Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC
Latent tuberculosis | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Synonyms | |
Pronounce | N/A |
Specialty | N/A |
Symptoms | None |
Complications | Tuberculosis |
Onset | |
Duration | |
Types | N/A |
Causes | Mycobacterium tuberculosis |
Risks | HIV/AIDS, immunosuppression, malnutrition |
Diagnosis | Tuberculin skin test, Interferon gamma release assay |
Differential diagnosis | |
Prevention | BCG vaccine, treatment of latent tuberculosis |
Treatment | Isoniazid, Rifampin, Rifapentine |
Medication | |
Prognosis | |
Frequency | |
Deaths |
Latent tuberculosis (LTB) refers to a state in which the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria are present in the body but remain inactive. People with latent TB do not exhibit symptoms and are not contagious. However, they are at risk of developing active tuberculosis if their immune system weakens.
Understanding Latent Tuberculosis[edit | edit source]
When an individual is exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, their immune system may successfully contain the bacteria, preventing them from multiplying and causing an active infection. This results in latent TB.
Distinguishing Features[edit | edit source]
- No Symptoms: Those with latent TB exhibit no signs or symptoms related to the disease.
- Non-Contagious: They cannot spread the TB bacteria to others.
- Potential for Activation: Without treatment, latent TB can activate, especially in those with compromised immune systems.
Diagnosis and Testing[edit | edit source]
A Tuberculin skin test (TST) or a TB blood test can help determine the presence of latent TB. While these tests show if a person has been infected with the bacteria, they don't differentiate between latent and active TB. Further tests, like chest X-rays, are essential if the initial tests are positive.
Treatment and Prevention[edit | edit source]
While not everyone with latent TB requires treatment, many at-risk populations benefit from preventative therapy to reduce the likelihood of TB activation.
Medications[edit | edit source]
Several medications, such as Isoniazid and Rifapentine, can be prescribed to treat latent TB. It's crucial to follow the full course of treatment to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains of the bacteria.
Risk Factors for Activation[edit | edit source]
Certain conditions and factors increase the risk of latent TB becoming active:
- HIV/AIDS
- Diabetes
- Severe kidney disease
- Certain cancers
- Medications that suppress the immune system
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
While latent tuberculosis poses a silent threat, understanding, early detection, and treatment are essential steps in preventing the progression to active TB and further spread of this age-old disease..
Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP1 injections from $125
W8MD offers a medical weight loss program NYC and a clinic to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our W8MD's physician supervised medical weight loss centers in NYC provides expert medical guidance, and offers telemedicine options for convenience.
Why choose W8MD?
- Comprehensive care with FDA-approved weight loss medications including:
- loss injections in NYC both generic and brand names:
- weight loss medications including Phentermine, Qsymia, Diethylpropion etc.
- Accept most insurances for visits or discounted self pay cost.
- Generic weight loss injections starting from just $125.00 for the starting dose
- In person weight loss NYC and telemedicine medical weight loss options in New York city available
- Budget GLP1 weight loss injections in NYC starting from $125.00 biweekly with insurance!
Book Your Appointment
Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss, and Philadelphia medical weight loss Call (718)946-5500 for NY and 215 676 2334 for PA
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's NYC physician weight loss.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available. Call 718 946 5500.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Kondreddy Naveen, Prab R. Tumpati, MD