POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Tuberculosis includes :

-Progressive shortness of breath,
-pneumothorax,
-pleural effusion,
-military tuberculosis,
-spine TB,
-meningitis,
-tuberculosis meningitis,
-kidney TB,
-kidney disease,
-peritonitis,
-pericardities,
-lymph node infection,
-bone complications,
-joint complications,
-fallopian tube infection (salpingitis),
-bowel infection,

-Addison's disease and death (the high death rate of 40-60% if untreated).

We will touch on 3 of the complications which we have chosen randomly. (Those that are highlighted in red above.)

Tuberculous meningitis: Tuberculous meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord caused by Koch's bacillus.


The picture on the left shows Koch's bacillus.



The picture below shows screenings of the brain being infected by the bacteria.

The several symptoms of Tuberculous meningitis include:

-Fever
-Headache
-Stiff Neck
-Aching Muscle
-Nausea
-Vomitting
-Listlessness
-Loss of Appetite
-Loss of Conciousness
-Seizures
-Sensitivity to light

Complications that arise from tuberculous meningitis are:

-Abnormal Behavior

-Mental Impairment

-Motor paralysis

-Seizures


Fallopian Tube infection (also known as Salpingitis):

This picture shows an inflammed fallopian tube. Symptoms of salpingitis include:


-Abnormal smell and colour of vaginal discharge.
-Pain during ovulation
-Pain during sexual intercourse
-Pain coming and going in periods
-Abdominal pain
-Lower back pain
-Fever
-Nausea
-Vomiting



These are the various complications that arise from salpingitis:

-Infection to nearby structures, such as the ovaries or uterus
-Infection of sex partners (leading to AIDS and HIV)
-An abscess on the ovary
-Ectopic pregnancy
-Infertility

Addison's Disease

Addison's disease is a rare endocrine, or hormonal disorder that affects about 1 in 100,000 people. It occurs in all age groups and afflicts men and women equally.

Symtoms of Addison's disease:
The disease is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin in both exposed and nonexposed parts of the body.

Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol and in some cases, the hormone aldosterone. For this reason, the disease is sometimes called chronic adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism.







A picture that illustrates Addison's Disease.