This is an automatically translated article.
Tuberculous meningitis is a rare occurrence in patients infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) but has the highest risk of death of all types of tuberculosis currently available. More dangerously, the signs of tuberculous meningitis are often similar to many other diseases, making timely detection and treatment difficult.
1. What types of tuberculosis are there?
Tuberculosis is a well-known disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) with an airborne route of transmission.
Tuberculosis is divided into two groups, which are:
Pulmonary tuberculosis: This is a condition in which bacteria damage mainly the lungs. Damage to both the lungs and other organs is still classified as pulmonary tuberculosis. Extrapulmonary TB: For this group of diseases, damage is common in other organs such as the peritoneum, lymph nodes, brain, genital organs, skin, bones, joints, pericardium, meninges... Organs The one with the most severe damage will be identified as the primary diagnosis. Among all types of tuberculosis, meningococcal TB accounts for only 5% of all TB cases in our country. However, this is the most dangerous form and has a severe prognosis if not detected and treated promptly.
People with tuberculous meningitis are hospitalized after entering a deep coma for treatment, the mortality rate can be up to 80%. In cases where life can be saved, the risk of complications such as vegetative disease, epilepsy, nerve paralysis or blindness is very high.
2. Causes of tuberculous meningitis
After entering the human body, TB bacteria will follow the bloodstream and attack the brain and meninges.
Tuberculosis meningitis can occur in both adults and children, in adults it is common between the ages of 20-50, children from 1-5. The incidence of tuberculous meningitis in men and women is different, in which men predominate.
About the cause of tuberculous meningitis is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB - aerobic bacteria) caused through the air. However, not everyone who is infected with the MTB bacteria will get TB, because studies show that only 1 in 10 people who are infected with the bacteria will get the disease.
In addition to the cause of meningitis caused by MTB bacteria, the following factors also increase the risk of disease:
Weakened immune system: MTB bacteria often incubate for a long time and wait until the immune system weakened human will attack immediately. Some diseases often affect the immune system such as HIV, diabetes, kidney disease, some types of cancer, malnutrition ... Besides, the use of certain drugs such as corticosteroids, chemotherapy drugs. Cancer, rheumatoid arthritis drugs, psoriasis drugs, Crohn's disease also have certain effects on the immune system. Live in or go to areas with high TB prevalence: Some regions like Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Russia, Latin America, the Caribbean islands have quite high rates of TB and of course TB cases. Living in or traveling through these locations also puts you at a higher risk of contracting MTB. Working environment: If doing jobs such as taking care of people with tuberculosis; living or working in a prison, shelter, mental hospital or nursing home... makes you more susceptible to TB than people in other jobs.
Dấu hiệu lao màng não ở người bệnh còn phụ thuộc vào thời gian mắc bệnh.
3. Signs of tuberculous meningitis in patients
Signs of tuberculous meningitis in patients more or less depend on the duration of the disease. However, signs of tuberculous meningitis will have typical symptoms as follows:
Prolonged high fever, the condition may increase in the evening. Headache, localized or diffuse, with intermittent and intermittent pain. When there is a stimulus, the pain will be dull or more intense. Vomiting. Digestive disorders . Stomachache . Pain in joints, spine, extremities. Urine secret. Urinary incontinence. Cranial nerve paralysis, limb paralysis. Seizures, mental disorders. Comatose. Although, tuberculous meningitis symptoms are very diverse, but are quite similar to many different brain diseases such as brain tumor, brain hemorrhage, meningitis, etc. Therefore, clinical diagnosis is often difficult. even misdiagnosis makes the initial treatment wrong. In addition, determining the diagnosis is also difficult because the false-negative rate is up to 50%, causing delay in treatment and high mortality rate.
In summary, tuberculous meningitis is a dangerous disease and the diagnosis also takes a long time. Therefore, as soon as abnormal signs are detected, patients need to go to the hospital for examination and examination for early treatment before the disease progresses seriously.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical professionals, modern equipment and technology, but also provides examination and consulting services. and comprehensive, professional treatment, civilized, polite, safe, and maximum sterilization space. Customers when choosing to perform tests here can be completely assured of the accuracy of test results.
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