Female and male signs of pulmonary tuberculosis. How to recognize the first signs of tuberculosis at an early stage The first signs of pulmonary tuberculosis in adult women

Diseases

It is considered one of the most common infectious diseases. Its causative agent is Koch's bacillus. According to WHO statistics, about 9 million people become ill with tuberculosis every year. Social conditions play an important role in this. For example, disadvantaged sections of the population are more susceptible to this disease. It is also worth noting that symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in women occur 2-3 times less often than in men (this figure is different for each country and continent). However, treatment for both sexes must be timely and professional.

The first signs of pulmonary tuberculosis in women

At the initial stage, the disease is often confused with a common cold or flu, since the symptoms of these pathologies are similar. The first signs of pulmonary tuberculosis in women include the following manifestations:

fast fatiguability;
lack of appetite;;
nausea and vomiting;;
headache;;
cardiopalmus;;
low-grade body temperature;

Many women, having noticed these manifestations, do not pay due attention to them, believing that these are signs of chronic fatigue. However, the headache and cough do not go away even after taking medicines, and the feeling of weakness does not leave after several days of rest. All this indicates the development of tuberculosis.

In the future, more specific signs of this disease appear. Their character largely depends on the affected organ. For example, symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in women include:

dyspnea;;
chest pain;;
change in the nature of percussion sound in the lungs;;
slight dry cough. ;

Increased sweating is a concern at night. After some time, the cough changes character and becomes wet, with sputum discharge. Wheezing in the lungs and hemoptysis may occur. Breathing becomes difficult.

Bacillus Koch is very resistant to environment. It does not die or change its properties, even after being in the ground, water or snow for a long time. This is why the disease is so widespread throughout the world. You can become infected with tuberculosis on the street, in public places, and in transport.

Sometimes more than one year passes from the moment of infection to the development of the disease. This is largely influenced by the body's protective functions. If the immune system is strong, it inhibits the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and does not allow the disease to develop. However, as soon as it weakens, microorganisms are activated, which leads to open form tuberculosis. In addition, the following factors can provoke the disease:

constant stress;
lack of vitamins;
malnutrition;
smoking and alcohol abuse;
long stay in a damp room.

Tuberculosis is caused by frequent colds or chronic pathologies, in particular. Also at risk are women with HIV infection, since their immunity is especially weakened.

Which doctor treats tuberculosis in women?

After the interview, the doctor will prescribe instrumental examination methods to clarify the diagnosis. As soon as the results are received, he will review the information and make a decision regarding further treatment. If tuberculosis is confirmed, the therapist writes a referral to a doctor with a more specialized profile. The following specialists treat this disease:

When the first signs of pulmonary tuberculosis appear in women, you should immediately contact a medical facility. Because only there they can confirm or refute the diagnosis. The first thing you should do is see a therapist. He will conduct a survey during which he will ask.

There is still an opinion among people that only representatives of socially disadvantaged strata suffer from tuberculosis. However, the reality is that absolutely anyone can encounter this pathology.

The signs and symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in women are varied and depend on several factors.

The location of inflammation and the characteristics of the body are of great importance. Because the disease develops on an individual basis, diagnosing it, especially in the early stages, is difficult. In most cases, the first symptoms of tuberculosis are practically no different from the manifestations of other diseases, and it is not immediately possible to determine which organ is affected.

Pathogens of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by fungal bacteria. The causative agent of the disease is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person mainly by air. Due to the activity of bacteria inside the body, an inflammatory process develops in the lung tissue, accompanied by intense intoxication.

According to various sources, about 8-9 million people worldwide suffer from symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, and 2-3 million of them die as a result of complications. The causative agent of the disease is bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium, which are common to people living in rural areas. Mycobacteria were discovered in 1882 by the German physician Robert Koch.

Routes of infection

Penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the lungs, as a rule, occurs by air. Much less common is contact and food transmission of pulmonary infection. Special mechanisms protect the human respiratory system from pathogenic microflora, but with the development of acute or chronic infections they are significantly weakened. Regardless of how mycobacteria entered the human body, they almost immediately penetrate the lymphatic system, from where they spread to all organs, settling where microcirculation is most developed: in the lungs, kidneys and tubular bones, eyes.

At this time, immunity enters the fight against pathogenic microflora, the state of which, by the way, directly determines the further development of events. If you have a strong immune system, the activity of mycobacteria will be suppressed, but some of them will still remain in the body in a latent state. If the immune system is severely weakened, then microorganisms will continue to actively multiply, eventually causing tuberculosis.

Primary symptoms of tuberculosis

The initial stage of tuberculosis in women and men is characterized by severe intoxication of the body. Sick for a long time may not consult a doctor, since the symptoms that appear resemble acute respiratory infections and other minor ones viral infections, which many people prefer to deal with on their own. In people with strong immunity, the disease often occurs latently and can begin to actively manifest itself only with extensive damage to the respiratory system. The following signs of pulmonary tuberculosis in women are considered the most pronounced:

Fatigue and weakness in the first half of the day, apathy;
A slight increase in body temperature (37 degrees), which can persist for a long time;
Loss of appetite and nausea;
Weight loss;
Tachycardia caused by the entry of tuberculosis toxins into the heart through the bloodstream;
Headache;
Profuse sweating, especially at night;
Enlarged regional lymph nodes;
Manifestations of bronchitis (cough, worse at night);
Chest pain;
Dyspnea.

Diagnostics

Every person is prone to developing pulmonary tuberculosis. It is a mistake to believe that this disease is characteristic only of representatives of socially disadvantaged sections of society. Therefore, you should be attentive to your own health and, if any strange symptoms occur, seek the advice of a specialist. Early diagnosis of the respiratory system with subsequent identification of signs of infection allows one to avoid the development of dangerous complications, which often cause the death of patients, but also to achieve a full recovery. Today, the following modern methods are used to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis.

The most in a simple way Tuberculosis infection is through airborne droplets. Therefore, it is often difficult to suspect the tuberculosis bacillus as the cause of illnesses. Contact with a sick person can happen on a bus, in a store, or even just on the street. Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in women may not appear immediately.

And the longer the bacteria stays in the body, the more destructive its effect. Signs of infection in women are specific. This helps determine the presence of the rod in the body.

There are a number of symptoms that are typical for both men and women. But specific signs can significantly disrupt activity female body. Therefore, an immediate response to their manifestation is necessary. To do this, you need to contact a pulmonologist or TB specialist.

Signs of pulmonary tuberculosis in the early stages may appear immediately in some women, but not in others. Although the stick enters the body immediately, the symptoms may be mild. It depends on the immune system, hormonal system and the presence of other diseases. With strong immunity, it is usually difficult to immediately notice the effect of bacteria on the body.

The main problem with the symptoms of tuberculosis is their similarity to the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, many infected people are in no hurry to consult a specialist, which can bring irreversible consequences.

The main symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults are as follows:

poor health and general weakness;
elevated temperature;
loss of appetite;
problems with the respiratory system.

The nature of the manifestation of symptoms largely depends on the age of the woman. Young girls have a much harder time coping with the disease than older women. Therefore, it is important to know all the general and specific symptoms.

The first signs of the disease in women

First, all the general signs of infection appear. Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis on early stage may appear in different order, but the first and most noticeable of them is increased temperature. It reaches low-grade levels.

The problem is that a temperature like 37 cannot be brought down, since medications can significantly lower it. Sometimes in the evening the temperature can reach 40 degrees.

Low-grade fever can last for days. An increase also occurs during stress or strain, both physical and mental.

Cough accompanies the entire process of disease development. The first signs of tuberculosis are a dry cough. The cough is observed throughout the day. Often interferes with sleep. When the disease has gained momentum, a cough with sputum appears. There may be pus or blood particles in the sputum. Sputum appears due to inflammatory processes.

Such processes disrupt gas exchange in the bronchi, which provokes a cough. But it is better to prevent the appearance of a wet cough. The first sputum is almost transparent and has an unpleasant odor.

The next stage is dark, thick sputum with particles of blood. At the last stage, the cough is accompanied by expectoration of blood and pus.

From the first day of infection, the woman feels general weakness in the body. Feeling unwell is not a direct indicator of illness, but it is better to take the sign into account. Chronic fatigue manifests itself throughout the day, but is most felt in the first half of the day. Following this, blood circulation is impaired, which leads to pale skin.

Representatives of the fair sex experience a strong loss of appetite. Throughout the day, the patient feels slight nausea, which leads to reluctance to eat. Because of this, the woman begins to lose weight quickly. Such hunger leads to an increased effect of fatigue and causes frequent dizziness.

Problems with the respiratory system can cause not only inconvenience, but also pain. Severe sharp pain may be felt in the chest area. It manifests itself as a result of the inflammatory process in the bronchi. Also, even at rest, shortness of breath may occur.

"Night" signs of infection

Due to the fact that the body is at rest before going to bed, some symptoms of tuberculosis in women may be more intense at night.

Towards evening the cough becomes more frequent. This applies to both dry and wet cough. Without movement, mucus in the bronchi stagnates and accumulates in large quantities.

The patient notices a sleep disorder, which is provoked by an increase in the expression of the symptom. There is also profuse sweating at night. But such sweating is not necessarily caused by elevated temperature. By night the temperature may subside, but sweat will be profuse during sleep.

Specific symptoms

A distinctive feature of pulmonary tuberculosis in women and girls is the failure menstrual cycle. Such a violation usually occurs in the early stages, which can also be a signal of infection. The disorder requires symptomatic treatment.

The effect of the bacterium can also manifest itself on the cardiovascular system. The activity of Koch's wand causes tachycardia. This problem also requires symptomatic treatment after contacting a cardiologist.

There are also a number of signs that pose a danger to the patient’s life. Such signs are usually not immediately noticeable, so it is extremely important to see a doctor in the early stages. The integrity of the skin may be compromised. Ulcerative formations can cause a lot of inconvenience and pain.

The activity of the wand affects the hormonal system of female representatives. In addition to cycle failure, constant itching in the genital area may also be felt. This indicates that the germ cells are exposed to the destructive effects of the disease.

One of the most dangerous manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis is attacks of suffocation. The first symptoms of tuberculosis are not necessarily accompanied by attacks, but they pose a great danger to life.

Attacks can be protracted and sometimes end in hospital intensive care.

Therefore, it is extremely important to consult a specialist in time for diagnosis.

Early diagnosis

Diagnosing the disease is not always easy. All the symptoms are similar to a common cold, which causes a negligent attitude towards the manifestations of the disease. The disease progresses individually, which also makes diagnosis difficult.

The most common methods for diagnosis are the following:

sputum analysis;
x-ray examination;
blood analysis.

Pulmonary tuberculosis can manifest itself in different ways, and the infection can be deeply hidden in the bronchi. Therefore, sometimes other, more accurate diagnostic methods are used.

Early diagnosis is important to avoid complications. Since it is not always easy to detect an infection in the early stages, a number of microbiological studies can be performed, such as bronchoscopy, biopsy and others.

Bronchoscopy helps examine the inside of the lungs. This method makes it easy to detect bacteria. But sometimes this method may not be enough. Then a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test can be performed.

This method is expensive, but can detect infection even at the earliest stages.

If tuberculosis symptoms If detected early, the disease is highly treatable. Late-diagnosed, advanced tuberculosis is often incurable. What are the symptoms of tuberculosis? The peculiarity and, to a certain extent, insidiousness of this disease is that, as a rule, it begins and goes unnoticed for the first time. Most often, the amount of the tuberculosis pathogen is too small for the body to react noticeably and to identify the symptoms of tuberculosis. The only sign of infection is a tuberculin reaction. At further development Diseases the body copes with the pathogen so easily that, fortunately, in very rare cases the body’s defenses manifest themselves clearly.

The first manifestations of the disease are usually mild at first and then gradually increase. Symptoms of tuberculosis are a cough with sputum production for more than 3 weeks, hemoptysis, a prolonged increase in temperature to low numbers, weight loss, increased fatigue, and loss of appetite. Mood swings, irritability, and decreased performance appear. Not all symptoms of tuberculosis may appear immediately, but only 1-2, and this will not necessarily be a cough.

Any of these symptoms of tuberculosis that last more than 3 weeks and are not explained by other reasons, and especially a combination of several of them, should be a reason to consult a doctor and be tested for tuberculosis.

However, there are cases when the symptoms of tuberculosis manifest themselves more actively: the temperature rises to 38-39°C and the patient feels pain under the sternum and behind the shoulders; a hard dry cough appears; sweating at night. Fever occurs mainly in the evenings with heavy sweating, the temperature rises slightly (from 37.5 to 38 ° C), the cough is constant, but not very strong, which in some cases can be assessed as characteristic symptom tuberculosis.

Often the patient also complains of pain under the shoulder blades (when the tuberculosis process spreads to the pleura); he feels tired, pale, easily excited, loses his appetite and suffers from digestive disorders. Joint pain is also common.

The above tuberculosis symptoms could be typical for the disease, but in reality everything is not so simple. The most different types influenza and simple inflammation of the lower respiratory tract have exactly the same symptoms. On the contrary, in many cases the symptoms of tuberculosis are so mild that initial stage tuberculosis, in which the patient is easily treatable, is not detected.

Sometimes the latent course of the disease continues for quite a long time, until a widespread process develops. In order to identify such silent forms, a fluorographic examination of the population is carried out. At the same time, and in the interval between fluoroscopic examinations, tuberculosis can go quite far. Therefore, if you suspect symptoms of tuberculosis, you need to pay attention to your health.

Not specific at all.
Children and adults with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to infection.
Currently, the disease can be cured, but it is impossible to defeat it 100%. Modern drugs, developed on the basis of many tests, alleviate the patient’s condition and lead to almost complete recovery.
However, today tuberculosis is one of the most common diseases.
There are about 18 million patients in the world.

Therapist: Azalia Solntseva ✓ Article checked by doctor

How does tuberculosis manifest in the early stages? Manifestations usually develop gradually, ranging from weeks to months, and may occur more acutely in young children or immunocompromised individuals. Clinical signs of the early stage of the disease are the typical triad that begins to appear: fever, night sweats and weight loss.

Each of these symptoms is present in 75, 45 and 55% of patients, respectively, while persistent irregular cough is the most common phenomenon (in 95% of patients).

It is classified as non-productive or with scanty sputum, which may be mucoid, mucous or bloody. Other symptoms include chest pain or shortness of breath.

The results of a chest x-ray may be critical in initiating treatment for patients with negative results sputum smear analysis.

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The first signs of the disease

What are the first signs of tuberculosis in the early stages? Primary infection is usually diagnosed only using the Mantoux and IGRA tests. In most cases, the pathology remains unrecognized because the symptoms are mild, nonspecific and usually self-limiting.

The primary lesion usually resolves within a few weeks or months, leaving signs of fibrosis and calcification that appear on a chest x-ray. In general, the risk of disease progression after initial infection is low, but is higher in young children and immunocompromised patients.

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How to determine the disease

Diagnosis of latent disease is based on information obtained from the medical history, tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRA, chest radiograph, physical examination and sputum examination.

The presence of the disease must be excluded before starting therapy, as this may lead to inadequate treatment and the development of drug resistance.

TCT is used to identify people infected with mycobacteria. If a person is affected, a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction occurs 2-8 weeks after infection.

The fluid is administered intradermally using the Mantoux technique by injecting 0.1 ml of a purified protein derivative of tuberculosis antigen. Interpretation of reactions should be carried out within 48-72 hours after the procedure.

IGRAs (interferon gamma assay) are also used to determine the presence of mycobacteria in the body by measuring the immune response to foreign TB proteins in whole blood. The samples are mixed with peptides that mimic the antigens, then the results are interpreted.

A chest x-ray helps differentiate latent tuberculosis from active tuberculosis in people with positive tests for infection. The doctor, using various diagnostics, will be able to determine the extent of damage to the body.

Sputum examination is indicated for people with positive test or imaging results.

How to diagnose and treat pathology

If pathology is detected, therapy should be started immediately. The sooner you start taking the prescribed medications, the sooner a complete cure will occur, and the risk of developing an active form and complications will be minimal.

Treatment with isoniazid has 2 options: for six or nine months.

The second mode is preferable because it is more efficient. The disease sometimes has to be treated for 6 months.

A 12-dose regimen (isoniazid and rifapentine) is recommended as a replacement for the standard daily course for 9 months. Used to treat persons over 12 years of age who have recently been in contact with a patient with tuberculosis. The regimen can be used in healthy HIV-infected people who are not taking antiretroviral drugs.

Rifampin therapy for four months can be used in individuals intolerant to the above medications. A doctor can diagnose a disease in various ways.

Main classification of the disease

Pathology is divided into five classes:

Exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, absence of clinical signs of infection. First class individuals have a history of exposure but a negative reaction to tuberculin skin test. If significant exposure has been observed within 3 months, a 10-week skin test should be performed, and in the intervening period, treatment for latent disease should be considered, especially for children under 15 years of age and persons with AIDS.
Latent infection, absence of disease. Individuals in class 2 have a positive tuberculin skin test, negative bacteriological tests, and no clinical, bacteriological or radiological evidence of active tuberculosis. Some people in this group may benefit from treatment for latent TB infection.
Tuberculosis is not clinically active. This class is defined by a history of a previous episode of pathology, persistent abnormal radiographic findings in an individual with a positive tuberculin skin test, negative bacteriological studies, and a lack of clinical and/or radiographic evidence of current disease.
Suspected tuberculosis. Individuals should be classified in this class at the time of diagnosis, regardless of whether treatment has been initiated or not. People cannot stay in this class for more than 3 months. When diagnostic procedures are completed, the person should be assigned to one of the previous groups.
Includes all patients with an active process for which diagnostic procedures have been completed. To qualify for the group, a person must have clinical, bacteriological and/or radiological evidence of current pathology. The patient remains in class 3 until treatment for the current episode of illness is completed.

Form of pathology:

pulmonary;
pleural;
lymphatic;
osteoarticular;
genitourinary;
widespread (miliary);
meningeal;
peritoneal;
another.

Bacteriological status

negative;
not done.

Chest X-ray results

normal;
pathological.

Skin reaction to tuberculin:

positive;
negative.

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How do the signs of infiltrative tuberculosis manifest themselves?

This clinical form a disease of the patient in which accumulations of inflammatory exudate form in the lungs, with possible necrosis in the center of the lesion. It can be distinguished only by radiographic signs. Moreover, the first signs completely coincide with the classic pulmonary type of pathology.

Cough is the most common manifestation. Initially it may be nonproductive, but as inflammation and tissue necrosis develop, copious sputum is produced. Hemoptysis sometimes occurs as a separate symptom of the disease, but is usually the result of a previous disease and may not indicate an active phase.

The bleeding may be caused by tuberculous bronchiectasis, rupture of a dilated vessel in the wall of the cavity (Rasmussen's aneurysm), bacterial or fungal infection (especially Aspergillus mycete), or erosion in the airways (broncholithiasis). Inflammation of the lung parenchyma near the pleural surface can cause pleuritic pain. Shortness of breath is unusual, provided that an extensive lesion does not develop, otherwise respiratory failure may occur.

When auscultating bronchial breathing, wheezing or crackling sounds are heard.

X-ray abnormalities in the chest are almost always diagnosed. In primary tuberculosis, this process is detected as an infiltrate of the middle or lower zone of the lung. Compression of the airways results in enlarged lymph nodes and can cause atelectasis, which is more common in children.

Since the disease does not manifest itself immediately, as the disease progresses, the infected material spreads through the respiratory tract to other parts of the lungs, causing heterogeneous bronchopneumonia.

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How to identify extrapulmonary tuberculosis

The disease develops when the infection spreads to other organs and tissues. Manifestations are extremely varied and often individual, depending on the areas that are infected by mycobacteria. More often than others, the lymph nodes, pleura, abdominal organs, bones and joints, spinal cord and brain and their membranes are affected.

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the most common form of this type of pathology. Lymph nodes are drainage stations for lymph in the body. When bacteria reach these tissues, the immune material launches an attack against the microorganisms.

This causes inflammation, swelling and is called a cold abscess. Sometimes the node can burst and form a fistula. It can be so large that it can compress surrounding structures and cause problems due to this, such as difficulty breathing and stridor.

The brain and spinal cord have three layers of tissue called meninges. Their inflammation leads to the development of meningitis. It can cause blockage of small arteries in the brain, leading to a reduction or cessation of blood supply and possible stroke.

Tuberculosis bacteria can infect the meninges by spreading from the lungs through the blood. This often happens in patients with weak immune systems. The doctor will be able to detect inflammation after examining the patient. Involvement of nervous system structures can cause a variety of symptoms, including headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, delirium and seizures.

Mycobacteria can infect any bones and joints, but usually have a tendency to affect the spine.

This can lead to deformation and destruction of bones or the formation of abscesses, which put pressure on the spinal cord with serious consequences. Joint involvement causes swelling and tenderness, as well as dysfunction and immobility. It becomes difficult for the patient to maintain his usual posture and carry out daily activities.

Abdominal tuberculosis may result from direct seeding or spread of mycobacteria through the blood from the lungs. They are capable of hitting anyone internal organ, including the intestines, liver, kidneys, spleen, urinary system. Each form of abdominal disease has its own set of symptoms and signs. Common signs include pain, malaise, loss of appetite, fever, nausea and vomiting.

Miliary tuberculosis occurs when germs spread throughout the body and is often fatal. It occurs as a systemic infection, causing severe damage to organs and systems. Frequent manifestations include headaches, elevated body temperature, anorexia, convulsions and paresis.

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Symptoms and forms in women

Depends on the part of the body that is affected by microorganisms. The illness usually develops slowly and may take several weeks to become clear that you are unwell.

Symptoms may not appear until months or even years after infection.

Sometimes the pathology does not cause any manifestations, so the specialist cannot correctly determine the incubation period. This condition is known as latent or latent tuberculosis.

Common symptoms of early-stage tuberculosis in women include:

high temperature (fever);
sweating at night;
Lack of appetite and weight loss:
fatigue or weakness.

However, these signs can have many different causes and are not always a manifestation of tuberculosis.

Most cases of pathology affect the lungs, which can cause:

a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually produces sputum, sometimes bloody;
shortness of breath with progression.

Less commonly, the pathology spreads beyond the respiratory system: to the lymph nodes, bones and joints, digestive tract, bladder And reproductive system, as well as the brain and nervous system.

Symptoms may include:

pain in the abdomen and joints;
enlarged tonsils;
constant migraines;
seizures (convulsions);
confusion;
loss of function of the affected bone.

Lesions in other parts of the body occur in people with weakened immune systems, such as older people and HIV-infected women.