A Tuberculosis or TB diagnosis can send chills down your spine. However, timely diagnosis can help you manage and treat the disease effectively. Besides understanding the gravity of the illness, it is important to recognise that TB does not only affect your lungs, but also other parts of your body. It can damage different organs and lead to complications. We spoke to two leading experts on the matter.
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What Is Tuberculosis (TB)?
Dr (Col) Vijay Dutta, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine & Pulmonology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, defines tuberculosis as a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, one crore people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) and despite being a preventable and curable disease, 10.5 lakh people die from it each year, making it the world’s top infectious killer.
Can TB Spread To Other Parts Of The Body
“Although TB primarily affects the lungs, it can also affect other organs in the body, leading to extrapulmonary tuberculosis,” said Dr Ashish Bajaj, Consultant Microbiologist, Oncquest Pathlabs, Gurugram, adding that it occurs when the bacteria spread from the lungs to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
According to Dr Dutta, TB is highly contagious and spreads through the aerosol when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. “People who have poor immune systems due to HIV, cancers and long-term use of systemic steroids are more prone to Tuberculosis. Individuals with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, or malnutrition are also at higher risk of contracting the disease,” he highlighted.
Explaining further, he said, “When the TB bacteria enters the body, the immune system of the host tries to fight the infection by producing white blood cells that engulf the bacteria. However, if the host's immune system is not strong enough, the bacteria can evade the immune system and start multiplying inside the body. Over time, as infected cells die, the bacteria spreads along with them, leading to the formation of small nodules called tubercles. These tubercles can rupture and release the bacteria into the bloodstream, which can ultimately infect other organs in the body. Moreover, TB can also take a toll on other organs of the body by causing a range of symptoms such as fever, weight loss, night sweats, cough and most commonly blood in sputum.”
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Other Parts Of The Body TB Can Affect
Extrapulmonary TB can affect various organs and systems, including:
Lymphatic System
Tuberculosis can infect the lymph nodes, causing lymphadenitis. Enlarged lymph nodes, particularly in the neck, are a common manifestation of extrapulmonary TB.
Central Nervous System
Tuberculosis meningitis is a severe form of the disease that affects the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can cause symptoms such as severe headache, neck stiffness, fever, confusion, and focal neurological deficits.
Bones and Joints
Skeletal tuberculosis, known as Pott's disease, can affect the spine (vertebral tuberculosis), hips, knees, and other joints. It leads to bone destruction, deformities, back pain, and joint inflammation.
Genitourinary System
Tuberculosis can impact the kidneys, causing renal tuberculosis. It may result in symptoms like blood in the urine, flank pain, frequent urination, and urinary tract infections. Genital tuberculosis can also occur, affecting the fallopian tubes, uterus, and other reproductive organs.
Gastrointestinal System
Tuberculosis can affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing gastrointestinal tuberculosis. It may involve the intestines, or peritoneum, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and bowel perforation.
Liver and Spleen
Tuberculosis can infect the liver and spleen, resulting in hepatosplenic tuberculosis. This can cause hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), and liver dysfunction. Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO), abdominal pain and weight loss are common.
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Symptoms To Beware Of
Dr Dutta shares a range of symptoms that can arise in advanced stages. These include:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Cough
- Blood in sputum
“In advanced cases, if not treated properly it can lead to drug resistance TB. It can affect the brain and spine, causing meningitis or spinal tuberculosis. It can also affect the kidneys, where it forms abscesses that lead to renal failure. TB can even affect the lymph nodes, leading to the formation of tuberculous lymphadenitis,” the doctor shared.