• Tuberculosis Information

Tuberculosis Diagnosis

The diagnosis of tuberculosis can be challenging, as it can often mimic other diseases like pneumonia, lung abscesses, tumor and fungal infections. When there is a suspicion of tuberculosis, doctors will evaluate on the basis of diagnostic tests, a physical examination and the medical history of the patient.

The most common test to diagnose tuberculosis is a skin test.

The Mantoux test

In this test a small quantity of a substance called PPD tuberculin is injected in the skin of the inside forearm.The test will result positive if after 48 to 72 hours a hard and raised bump appears on the injection site. This test is considered quite reliable, although false-negative or false-positive results are possible, especially if the infection with tuberculosis has recently occurred.

Other tests include:

• Chest x-rays - usually prescribed after the skin test has come out positive.

• Culture test (sputum test) - a sample of the stomach secretion or the mucus that comes up when coughing is tested for tuberculosis bacteria. The result becomes available within a few hours of culture.

• A blood test to detect the presence of tuberculosis bacteria has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will become soon available

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