Question 1

what is the life expectancy of a person living with ltbi (latent tuberculosis infection)?

Accepted Answer

No adverse effect: Latent TB infection is not expected to affect the life expectancy of an infected individual unless latent TB becomes activated.

Question 2

could you please describe the life cycle of tuberculosis bacilli in the body and the ways in which they spread?

Accepted Answer

See below: The answer would not fit in the space allotted. Please visit this site for information. 
http://www.cdc.gov/TB/

Question 3

what is the life of tuberculosis patient without treatment?

Accepted Answer

Variable: Many patients with active untreated TB will have night sweats, fevers and weight loss.  The TB organism can damage the lungs causing you to cough up blood.  Eventually untreated TB can lead to severe scarring in the lungs.  Best to seek medical treatment.

Question 4

what does it mean to have pulmonary tuberculosis? is this life threatening?

Accepted Answer

Potentially serious: Pulmonary tuberculosis is due to lung infection with a "mycobacteria".  Historically a serious but treatable infection, there are now strains that can be difficult to treat because of resistance and can be very serious.  A "positive PPD test" must be evaluated by a physician, and, if necessary, treated promptly with antibiotics.

Question 5

how can tuberculosis latency work?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis latency: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) occurs when one has been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but does not have active tuberculosis disease. It is not contagious in this state.

Question 6

how can i get tuberculosis in usa?

Accepted Answer

Close contact: By being in close contact with someone who has it.

Question 7

what is latent and active tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Need chest X-ray: Positive TB skin test simply means tested person was exposed to an active case of tb.  If the person remains asymptomatic (free of active disease signs, e.g., weight loss, night sweat, cough, etc) with negative chest x-ray, he (she) has a latent tb.

Question 8

i have untreated tuberculosis, can i die?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Slowly, painfully, many have before effective treatments were developed. Nowadays, the risk is minimal, particularly if you are otherwise in good health. Tb is very treatable with minor exceptions.

Question 9

how can i manage protracted tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

See a specialist: Active tuberculosis treatment, especially complicated, is something that should be managed closely with a doctor (an infectious disease specialist, if available).  There is no simple way to manage it.  Management is with antibiotics and close followup to ensure everything remains safe, as treatment will be for months.

Question 10

how can you tell if you have tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis: Clinically, patients with TB complain of cough (sometimes coughing up blood), weight loss, and night sweats. To diagnose it, we check sputum cultures. Chest x-rays show a wide variety of abnormalities.

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Doctor answers about:

Tuberculosis life expectancy

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy of a person living with ltbi (latent tuberculosis infection)?

A member asked:

Could you please describe the life cycle of tuberculosis bacilli in the body and the ways in which they spread?

A member asked:

What is the life of tuberculosis patient without treatment?

A member asked:

What does it mean to have pulmonary tuberculosis? is this life threatening?

A member asked:

How can tuberculosis latency work?

A member asked:

How can i get tuberculosis in usa?

A member asked:

What is latent and active tuberculosis?

A member asked:

I have untreated tuberculosis, can i die?

A member asked:

How can i manage protracted tuberculosis?

A member asked:

How can you tell if you have tuberculosis?

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