What does secondary tuberculosis mean?

n. Tuberculosis occurring in adults and characterized by lesions near the apex of an upper lobe of the lung that may cavitate or heal with scarring; it may result from reinfection with the tubercle bacillus or from reactivation of a dormant endogenous infection.

What is pulmonary tuberculosis caused by?

Pulmonary TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tuberculosis). TB is contagious. This means the bacteria are easily spread from an infected person to someone else.

How is primary tuberculosis identified?

The Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) or the TB blood test can be used to test for M. tuberculosis infection. Additional tests are required to confirm TB disease. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid called tuberculin into the skin in the lower part of the arm.

What causes secondary tuberculosis?

Secondary tuberculosis usually occurs because of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection. The lesions of secondary tuberculosis are in the lung apices. A smaller proportion of people who develop secondary tuberculosis do so after getting infected a second time (re-infection).

What is reactive tuberculosis?

Reactivation TB may occur if the individual’s immune system becomes weakened and no longer is able to contain the latent bacteria. The bacteria then become “active;” they overwhelm the immune process and make the person sick with TB. This also is called TB disease.

Is pulmonary tuberculosis fatal?

Pulmonary TB is curable with treatment, but if left untreated or not fully treated, the disease often causes life-threatening concerns. Untreated pulmonary TB disease can lead to long-term damage to these parts of the body: lungs.

What does primary tuberculosis mean?

n. Tuberculosis caused by infection with tubercle bacilli and characterized by the formation of a primary complex in the lungs consisting of a small peripheral pulmonary focus and hilar or paratracheal lymph node involvement; it may cavitate and heal with scarring or progress.