Tuberculosis, antibiotic-resistant
A variant of tuberculosis (TB) that is not affected by one or more of the antibiotics normally used to treat it. If the strain of TB is unaffected by more than one medication, it is called multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is a rare type of MDR TB that is resistant to almost all drugs used to treat TB. A person with any form of drug-resistant TB needs care from a specialist who knows how to use stronger medications. These forms of TB are particularly contagious. Family members and other contacts of diagnosed patients may also need to take medications as a preventive measure.
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A type of tuberculosis affecting birds, caused by Mycobacterium avium, which may be communicated to other animals and humans.
- Tuberculosis, dormant
The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection without a positive chest X-ray. Treatment is not mandatory for dormant tuberculosis (TB), as with active TB, but it is a good idea because the bacterium could become active later. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics and vitamins.
- Tuberculosis, drug-resistant
Tuberculosis (TB) that does not respond to standard drug treatment. Drug-resistant TB has become a very serious problem in recent years in certain populations. For example, TB resistant to the drug isoniazid (INH) is seen among patients from Southeast Asia. The reason for this INH resistance is not quite clear. However, the presence of INH-like […]
- Tuberculosis, extrapulmonary
TB that occurs outside the lungs. For example, TB can be active in the lymph nodes or kidneys.
- Tuberculosis, genetic susceptibility to
Genes that make someone susceptible to developing tuberculosis (TB) when exposed to the bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that causes it. Although there are millions of new cases of TB each year, not everyone exposed to the bacterium becomes infected nor does everybody infected with it develop clinical symptoms of TB. A genetic region has been discovered […]