Tuberculosis

Infectious Diseases

Granulomatous infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most commonly pulmonary.

Clinical features

  • Cough >3 weeks
  • Haemoptysis
  • Weight loss, night sweats, fever
  • Extrapulmonary: lymphadenitis, spine (Pott), meningitis

Investigations

  • Sputum AFB ×3 + GeneXpert MTB/RIF
  • CXR (upper lobe cavitation, fibrosis)
  • Mantoux / IGRA (latent)
  • HIV test

Management

  • RIPE 2 months → RI 4 months (drug-sensitive)
  • Pyridoxine 10 mg OD with isoniazid
  • Contact tracing + DOTS

Drug therapy

  • Rifampicin 10 mg/kg OD
  • Isoniazid 5 mg/kg OD
  • Pyrazinamide 25 mg/kg OD
  • Ethambutol 15 mg/kg OD

Complications

  • Hepatotoxicity (check LFT)
  • Optic neuritis (ethambutol)
  • MDR-TB

References

  • WHO TB 2024
  • NICE NG33

Educational — verify locally.

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