Final answer:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its symptoms include a persistent, bloody cough and fever. Diagnosis involves CXR to detect Ghon complexes and sputum cultures with special staining techniques, while treatment requires a long-term antibiotic regimen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic, infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs, but it can spread to other parts of the body. The causative agent is the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In its active form, symptoms may include a persistent cough, sometimes with blood-tinged mucus (hemoptysis), fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The disease is highly communicable through respiratory droplets emanating from coughs or sneezes of infected individuals.
For diagnosis, chest X-ray (CXR) is crucial as it can reveal the formation of Ghon complexes, which are indicative of healed tuberculosis lesions. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is a common screening tool, but it may yield false positives, especially in individuals previously vaccinated with BCG. Confirmation of TB typically involves sputum culture to detect the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is often identified using acid-fast staining techniques like the Ziehl-Neelsen method.
Treatment (tx) for TB involves a long course of multiple antibiotics, such as clarithromycin. Adherence to the entire treatment regimen is necessary to prevent the emergence of drug-resistant TB strains. Public health measures, including wearing respiratory masks and patient isolation, can mitigate the spread of TB.