Internal Medicine Flashcards
(106 cards)
Define TB
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
What is the mode of transmission for TB?
Transmission occurs mainly by inhalation of infected particles.
What are the characteristics of the TB bacillus?
- Humans are the only reservoir
- Aerobic
- Non-spore forming
- Non-motile
- High lipid content in cell wall
- Slow growing
- Acid-fast
What are the common presenting signs and symptoms of TB?
- Cough lasting more than 3 weeks
- Night sweats
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss
- Weakness or fatigue
- Productive of sputum or blood
- Chest pain
- Fever
List some chronic complications of TB.
- Respiratory complications
- Musculoskeletal issues
- CNS complications
- Gastrointestinal involvement
- Renal complications
How can TB be diagnosed?
- Sputum smear and culture
- Biopsy of peripheral lymph nodes
- Imaging studies
- PCR testing
- Clinical evaluation
True or False: Infected people are most susceptible to developing active TB during infancy, ages 15-25, and old age.
True
What are some risk factors for developing active TB?
- Malnutrition
- Homelessness
- Alcoholism
- Renal failure
- Immunosuppression
- HIV/AIDS
- Incarceration
What role do macrophages and T lymphocytes play in TB?
They are involved in immune control of the disease.
What is the typical outcome for a patient with TB?
The outcome depends on the type and extent of disease, efficacy of management, and patient compliance.
What is the first-line treatment for TB?
The treatment typically involves a combination of antibiotics, including isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide.
Fill in the blank: The modern era of tuberculous chemotherapy began in ______.
[1946]
What is the role of ART in patients living with HIV and TB?
All people living with HIV should be screened for TB and start ART if eligible.
What is the significance of a TST in TB management for PLHIV?
A TST is required to determine eligibility for isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT).
What is the most common site of bowel involvement in TB?
The ileo-caecal junction.
What are some neurological symptoms associated with CNS TB?
- Vomiting
- Malaise
- Focal neurological signs
- Meningism
- Confusion
- Headache
What is a common diagnostic method for tuberculous pericarditis?
Pericardiocentesis should be performed if the patient is haemodynamically unstable.
True or False: Ziehl-Neelsen stain is a method used in diagnosing TB.
True
What is the diagnostic yield of fine needle aspiration biopsy of peripheral lymph nodes?
Up to 75%.
What is a common presentation of renal tuberculosis?
Sterile pyuria and abnormal IVP findings.
What is the typical cellular predominance in ascites caused by peritoneal TB?
Lymphocyte cellular predominance.
What are bronchopleural fistulas associated with?
Tuberculous empyemas.
What is pneumonia?
An infection of the alveoli of the lung that can be caused by nearly any class of organism.
Pneumonia is also referred to as the forgotten killer.