pulmonary tuberculosis
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A specific, infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs. It is characterized by the formation of tubercles (small nodules) in the lung tissue, leading to symptoms such as chronic cough, chest pain, fever, night sweats, and progressive weight loss and physical wasting.
Usage
This is a medical term used to describe the most common form of active tuberculosis (TB), where the infection is localized in the lungs. It is used in clinical, public health, and academic contexts. - The patient was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis after a persistent cough and abnormal chest X-ray. - Effective treatment regimens are crucial for curing pulmonary tuberculosis and preventing its spread.
Advanced Usage
- Cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis: Refers to an advanced stage where the infection creates cavities or holes in the lung tissue.
- Cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis is highly contagious due to the large number of bacteria present in the sputum.
- Miliary tuberculosis: While not pulmonary-specific, this is a severe form where the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body via the bloodstream.
- Untreated pulmonary tuberculosis can sometimes develop into life-threatening miliary tuberculosis.
Variants and Related Words
- TB (noun): The common abbreviation for tuberculosis.
- Consumption (noun): An archaic, historical term for pulmonary tuberculosis, referring to the way the disease seemed to "consume" the body.
- Phthisis (noun): Another historical medical term for pulmonary tuberculosis.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (noun): The scientific name for the causative bacterium.
Synonyms
- Tuberculosis of the lungs: A more descriptive synonym.
- Lung TB: An informal, shortened form.
Related Phrases and Collocations
- Active pulmonary tuberculosis: Indicates the disease is symptomatic and contagious.
- Patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis must be isolated initially.
- Drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: Describes forms of the disease that do not respond to standard antibiotics.
- Treating drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis requires longer and more complex drug regimens.
- Sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis: A diagnostic classification indicating the bacteria are visible in a patient's sputum sample under a microscope, confirming high transmissibility.
Noun
- involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body