Tuberculosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Medication | The Generics Pharmacy
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Tuberculosis: causes, symptoms, and medication

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially life-threatening infection that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria which cause tuberculosis can easily spread from one person to another through droplets that get released in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

chest x-ray

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is an air-borne bacterial infection. It most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary tuberculosis) but in some cases, can also affect other parts of the body (extrapulmonary tuberculosis) like the brain, lymph nodes, joints, bones, and kidneys.

Tuberculosis can be categorized into two kinds: active TB (TB case where a patient displays TB symptoms) and latent TB (TB case where a patient does not feel any of the symptoms and are not infectious).

What are the causes of tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is considered an air-borne disease. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes without covering their face, releasing microscopic droplets of saliva and mucus into the air.

Although a contagious disease, it is not easy to catch tuberculosis from strangers. Infection typically happens between people in constant close contact with each other, such as family members, officemates, schoolmates, or dormmates. 

What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?

People infected with the tuberculosis bacteria do not always get sick. This is because their immune system is able to fight off the bacteria and prevent it from causing symptoms to arise. This is why tuberculosis cases are categorized into two:

  • Latent TB – patients who have the tuberculosis but the bacteria in the body is inactive and non-contagious. Latent TB patients do not display any symptoms. Latent TB can turn into active TB if left untreated. 
  • Active TB – commonly referred to as TB disease. Active TB cases are the ones that display symptoms and are contagious. A person can develop active TB weeks or even years after becoming infected with the tuberculosis bacteria.

Symptoms of active tuberculosis include:

  • Coughing for three or more weeks
  • Coughing up blood or mucus
  • Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Chills
  • Loss of appetite

Tuberculosis cases that affect other parts of the body, also known as extrapulmonary tuberculosis, will have symptoms different from pulmonary tuberculosis. Symptoms will vary depending on the organs involved – tuberculosis of the spine may cause you back pain, tuberculosis of the kidney will cause blood in your urine.

When to see a doctor

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you’re experiencing a fever, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or a cough that won’t go away. These are all signs of TB, but testing will need to be done in order to confirm it. See a doctor right away if you’ve been exposed to anyone who has TB.

What are the drugs for tuberculosis?

Treatment for tuberculosis (whether active or latent) typically lasts several months. This includes what is called first line treatment. Your doctor may prescribe any or a combination of the following generic drugs for tuberculosis:

  • Isoniazid 
  • Rifampin
  • Pyrazinamide 
  • Ethambutol

Treatment may last as long as six months or more. It is important to finish your treatment, so the TB bacteria does not become resistant to drugs.

Tuberculosis strains that are resistant to drugs will go through second line treatment. These are:

  • Ethionamide
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Levofloxacin
  • Cycloserine
  • Kanamycin
Recommended Medicines for Infection
Isoniazid 300mg Tablet
Isoniazid Tab 300mg (TGP)-100
TGP Tetracycline Hydrochloride capsule
Tetracycline Hydrochloride Cap 500mg (TGP DBRL)-100
Ciprofloxacin 500mg 100 tablets box
Ciprofloxacin Tablets 500mg (TGP) - 100
Clarithromyci tablet 500mg
Clarithromycin FCTab 500mg (TGP)-30
Clindamycin Hydrochloride 150mg 30 capsules box
Clindamycin Cap 150mg (TGP DBRL)-30
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Suspension 200mg
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Susp 200mg/28.5mg/5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Co- Amoxiclav Syrup
Co-Amoxiclav PowSusp 250mg 62.5mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Amoxicillin Trihydrate 60ML box
Amoxicillin Trihydrate PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP)-1
Cefaclor Powder Suspension 125mg 60ml
Cefaclor PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Cefuroxime Axetil 500mg TGP
Cefuroxime Axetil FCTab 500mg (TGP) - 100
Pyrantel Pamoate suspension 250mg 60ml
Pyrantel Pamoate Susp 250mg 60ml (TGP)-1
Placeholder
Ethambutol Tab 400mg (TGP)-100
Pyrazinamide-ZYNAPHAR
Pyrazinamide Tab 500mg (ZYNAPHAR)-100
Onecure film-coated tablet
Rifam+INH+PZA+Ethambutol Tab 150/75/400/275 (ONECURE SANDOZ)-60
Picinaf capsule 540mg
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (PICINAF)-100
Rifampicin 450mg 100 capsules box
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (TGP)-100
Recommended Medicines for Infection
Isoniazid 300mg Tablet
Isoniazid Tab 300mg (TGP)-100
TGP Tetracycline Hydrochloride capsule
Tetracycline Hydrochloride Cap 500mg (TGP DBRL)-100
Ciprofloxacin 500mg 100 tablets box
Ciprofloxacin Tablets 500mg (TGP) - 100
Clarithromyci tablet 500mg
Clarithromycin FCTab 500mg (TGP)-30
Clindamycin Hydrochloride 150mg 30 capsules box
Clindamycin Cap 150mg (TGP DBRL)-30
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Suspension 200mg
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Susp 200mg/28.5mg/5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Co- Amoxiclav Syrup
Co-Amoxiclav PowSusp 250mg 62.5mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Amoxicillin Trihydrate 60ML box
Amoxicillin Trihydrate PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP)-1
Cefaclor Powder Suspension 125mg 60ml
Cefaclor PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Cefuroxime Axetil 500mg TGP
Cefuroxime Axetil FCTab 500mg (TGP) - 100
Pyrantel Pamoate suspension 250mg 60ml
Pyrantel Pamoate Susp 250mg 60ml (TGP)-1
Placeholder
Ethambutol Tab 400mg (TGP)-100
Pyrazinamide-ZYNAPHAR
Pyrazinamide Tab 500mg (ZYNAPHAR)-100
Onecure film-coated tablet
Rifam+INH+PZA+Ethambutol Tab 150/75/400/275 (ONECURE SANDOZ)-60
Picinaf capsule 540mg
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (PICINAF)-100
Rifampicin 450mg 100 capsules box
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (TGP)-100
Respiratory System
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Integumentary System
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