Cellular Laboratory

Case Study

Tuberculosis

The doctor suspected that the patient had Tuberculosis because of the presentation. Other symptoms that can be expected in TB include fever, chills, weight loss, pallor, and fatigue. TB is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria (mycobacterium tuberculosis) that can be fatal if left untreated. The disease most commonly attacks the lungs but can also affect other systems such as the central nervous system, the circulatory system and the joints. Approximately, one third of the worlds population has been exposed to TB but not all of these individuals go on to develop active disease. These individuals are described as having latent infection, of which one in ten will go on to develop active TB disease. There has been a recent rise in the number of infections in the developed world due to a combination of predisposing factors, such as HIV infections, the emergence of drug resistant bacteria and immigration from areas where the disease is endemic.

What laboratory tests might be performed to confirm the diagnosis of TB?

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