Pulmonary Tuberculosis: symptoms, Diagnosis, management, Complications

Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculae.

Etiology:

Transmission

1.     Droplet infection.( coughing, talking, sneezing or singing.)

2.     When an uninfected susceptible person inhales the droplet, containing air, the organism is carried into the lung to the pulmonary alveoli.

Signs and symptoms:

1.     Patient may be asymptomatic. Later it can show symptoms as follows:

2.     Fatigue, Anorexia, weight loss, low-grade fever, night sweats indigestion.

3.     Some patients have acute febrile illness, chill, generalized influnzalite symptoms.

4.     Cough  (insidious  onset)  progressing  in  frequency  and

5.     producing mucous or mucopurulent sputum. iv. Hemoptysis, chest pain, dyspnoea.

Diagnosis:

1.     Sputum  smear and culture

2.     Chest x-ray

Management:

Medical management:

Anti tuberculosis therapy

Nursing management:

i.       Obtain history of exposure to tuberculosis.

ii.     Administer and teach self-administration of medication as ordered

Encourage rest and avoidance of exertion.

i.       Monitor breath sounds, respiratory rate, sputum production and dyspnoea.

ii.     Provide supplementary oxygen as ordered.

iii.  Encourage and explain the importance of eating a nutritious.

iv.     Monitor weight.

Administer  vitamin  supplements  as ordered,  particularly

pyridoxine       (Vitamin     B12)  to      prevent       peripheral neuropathy   in-patient taking isonized.

Prevention of transmission

1.     Be aware that, respiratory droplet or secretions transmit tuberculosis.

2.     Provide care for hospitalized patient in a negative pressure room to prevent respiratory droplets from leaving room when door is opened.

3.     Enforce that all staffs and visitors use standard face mask for contact with patient.

4.     Use high-efficiency particulate mask for high-risk procedures

5.     Educate the patient about the etiology transmission of effects of tuberculosis.

6.     Stress the importance of continuing to take medication for prescribed time.

7.     Follow up care

Complication:

1.     Pleural effusion

2.     Tuberculosis pneumonia.

3.     Other organ involvement with tuberculosis.