Tuberculosis

Description

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that is caused by the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The principal route of infection is the respiratory tract through the inhalation of infected air droplet nuclei from a patient and from the environment. 

Infection may rarely occur through the gastrointestinal tract from the ingestion of infected unpasteurised milk. 

Exposure to mycobacterium tuberculosis may lead to latent TB infection. The lifetime risk of subsequent progression to active disease in people with a latent infection and an intact immune system is approximately 5%. Progression of a latent infection occurs at a higher rate in individuals with immunosuppression especially those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In HIV-infected patients with advanced immunosuppression, extra pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common form of tuberculosis