How does tuberculosis become infected? Closed form of tuberculosis: how the disease is transmitted and progresses

The definition of “kiss” is the deliberate touching of the lips to an animate or inanimate object. There is even a science - philematology - and experts who understand the psychological and physiological characteristics kissing a person.

What are kisses like?

Not only in human society kissing has become a method of expressing emotions and showing feelings. Some mammals - bonobos and chimpanzees - express their relationships to each other in the same way.

There are different types of kisses:

love;
friendly;
polite;
sincere;
insincere;
emotionally passionate;
ritual...

They kiss animate and inanimate objects: children, loved ones, parents, friends, animals, the banner and the land at their native threshold.

Scientists believe that kissing has special positive qualities.

Benefits of touching lips

Dentists believe that kissing stimulates the production of saliva, which helps remove plaque and strengthen tooth enamel.

During passionate kiss In healthy people, breathing increases 3-4 times, and during normal periods - 1.5-2 times. Blood flow accelerates, the heart is enriched with oxygen, serotonin is produced - the hormone of happiness, and the production of cortisol - the stress hormone is stopped. All this has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and strengthens the myocardium.

When kissing, other hormones are also produced - endorphin and adrenaline. Thanks to endrophin, the body overcomes depressive states, and adrenaline causes strong emotions.

It turns out that touching with your lips helps prevent injuries, because the organic reaction resembles that which occurs during a parachute jump or cross-country race.

Lovers of kisses age more slowly - during the characteristic movement, more than 30 facial muscles are activated, which tones the facial skin and prevents the formation of wrinkles.

During kissing, an exchange of flora takes place - both suitable and not so much. New bacteria activate the immune system, immunity increases - so says Ulf Beming, a doctor from Australia. Human saliva contains more than 240 bacterial cultures.

It is very offensive that immunity does not increase invariably - in some cases it falls because infection with certain dangerous diseases occurs.

How can you get infected through a kiss?

The fact that it is possible to become infected through a kiss was noted by the ancient Jews - this is why, according to the Old Testament, it is forbidden to kiss a deceased loved one - it is unlikely that strangers will touch someone else's corpse with their lips. ( Pathological conditions are not considered in this context.) Pathogenic flora is transmitted through a kiss, even when expressing respect for an inanimate object. They usually kiss the banner with pursed lips, lightly touching the canvas with them, but they linger on the icons - praying for healing - for a long time.

There is no guarantee that a similar request and a similar expression of gratitude was recently made by someone who previously had the infection. For example, many pathogenic microbes causing diseases digestive system, retain their “survival” for up to 10-21 days, and Koch’s stick - the tuberculosis bacillus - for up to 7 years!

So you shouldn’t ask, is it possible to get infected through a kiss?

It is better to clarify which infections are transmitted together with saliva.

Stomatitis;

Tonsillitis;

Sinusitis;

Rhinitis;

Bronchitis;

Pneumonia of various etiologies.

The causative agents of these diseases are localized in the organs and mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract. You should not kiss someone who is sick with seasonal infections - the risk of infection is above 90%.

Can you get tuberculosis through a kiss?

Without a doubt. As already mentioned, the Koch stick exhibits extraordinary durability. Tuberculosis is not only contracted by touching lips to lips. This disease can be localized in all organic systems and spread through the bloodstream.

After isolating the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which causes erosive diseases of the digestive system, it turned out that it is transmitted together with saliva, but! Only for people with low immune rank.

Are hepatitis and mononucleosis transmitted?

Is it possible to become infected with hepatitis C through a kiss, as well as other types of this very dangerous disease?

Hepatitis A - that is, kissing a sick person - is indisputable, but infection with forms B and C is spoken of only theoretically - documentary evidence of infection by this method has not yet been registered.

There is a high likelihood of transmitting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by expressing love to to your own child. Many children become ill with mononucleosis precisely after touching the lips of surrounding adults - the disease in people with strong immunity is asymptomatic. In most children, the disease occurs in mild form and immunity is developed for life, some develop quite important complications that adversely affect the condition of the heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Can you get syphilis through a kiss?

There are syphilitic sore throats, chancre can appear on the mucous membrane oral cavity. It has been documented that this form of the disease appears later than oral sex, but in the future there is a threat of contracting syphilis through kissing and through everyday life.

During erotic caresses, you can “catch” gonorrhea - its pathogens can also be localized in the tonsils.

Can you get chlamydia through a kiss?

About 5% of respiratory tract diseases are truly provoked by the introduction of chlamydia, but such inflammatory processes occur quite easily and severe consequences, naturally in places where pathogenic microbes are localized, do not cause. Spreading through the bloodstream, the infection waits “its time”, but if there is no urogenital replenishment, the infection is not activated.

A kiss from a person suffering from generalized (acute) chlamydia is dangerous - only then there will be a sufficient amount of pathogenic flora in the saliva, which will overcome the harsh barrier of the stomach and penetrate into the body.

The papillomavirus is most often transmitted through kissing, and it is not necessary to caress each other’s oral area. Papillomas can appear on any part of the body, and if they grow vigorously, there is a risk of degeneration and metastasis.

Pregnant women can transmit cytomegalovirus through kissing, which can cause:

frozen pregnancy;
miscarriage;
complications in unborn babies.

Can you get HIV through a kiss?

The danger of contracting HIV has been greatly exaggerated. So far, only one case of similar transmission of infection has been recorded, and that was in a woman’s mouth. inflammatory process, and her companion has a vigorous form of AIDS. And the husbands lived together for about 7 years, so there is a possibility that they easily forgot about protective equipment during sexual intimacy.

Hepatitis and HIV are transmitted through blood, for infection by these infections. In order for them to be transmitted, certain data is necessary - the presence of bleeding areas in the oral cavity of both partners.

Other diseases and risk factors

You should not exchange oral sex with people suffering from intestinal infections. Dysentery, typhoid, cholera and similar diseases are transmitted through saliva. Furthermore, after any contact with such patients, you need to wash your hands.

When buying lipstick, women must pay attention to its quality. If you don't think about your health, take pity on your companion! Poor quality contractors may use additives that cause cancer in the body. Kissing while using low-quality cosmetics is dangerous to health.

Most often, herpes is transmitted through caressing with lips. It's even called the "kissing disease." It is unthinkable to cure herpes - just get rid of it characteristic features: blisters on the lips, which cause ulcerative blemishes in the future.

There is a saying: in order to get rid of herpes forever, you need to kiss a person who has never had herpes. He is immune and will be passed on by exchanging saliva. This is a misconception; it is more likely that the second person will get herpes than the sick person will recover.

In addition, it is virtually impossible to meet a person whose body does not have this virus. Rather, the companion easily has a strong immune system.

So why not increase your immune rank by living an energetic life, switching to a balanced regime of work and rest, and reasonable nutrition? Then the risk of “catching” any infection from kissing will be reduced to the slightest.

Our life is full of unpredictable moments. Today an absolutely healthy person can go to bed with serious illness. An irresponsible attitude towards oneself is the cause of many ailments, including the most dangerous ones. Every adult should know how tuberculosis is transmitted, what are its causes, forms and outcome. Timely treatment can save lives.

Tuberculosis - what kind of disease?

Tuberculosis - infection upper respiratory tract, which is caused by Koch's bacillus (a bacterium discovered by a German biologist). The microbe is very resistant to external environment. It persists for weeks, and sometimes months, on household items, books, and in water. However, when exposed to direct sun rays dies in less than an hour.

Tuberculosis disease can have different shapes- pulmonary and extrapulmonary. Pulmonary tuberculosis can be open or closed.

Two stages of the disease

Tuberculosis most often affects the lungs. There are primary and secondary stages of the disease.

Primary is present in those people who have never been infected before. The disease is often initial stage develops without symptoms. On x-rays small compactions may be observed - these are foci of inflammation in which for a long time microbes are dormant.

Primary tuberculosis complex - spread of infection through lymphatic vessels. As a result, foci of inflammation are formed.

When, after a complete recovery, a person becomes infected again, it is worth talking about the secondary stage of the disease. She may be:

Focal - a small number of productive foci are formed.
Disseminated - multiple foci. Develops gradually. Characterized by severe intoxication.
Infiltrative - the fusion of several foci of inflammation into one.
Cavernous - formation of an isolated decay cavity lung tissue. The cavity contains mycobacteria with sputum. The cavernous form arises as a result of previous forms.
Tuberculoma - often does not have a bright severe symptoms. It is mainly detected during a medical examination. Most often it affects physically strong and healthy people.
Fibrous-cavernous - the most dangerous.

Open and closed forms

Tuberculosis patients who do not receive proper therapy die. The disease can cause pathology in absolutely any organ. However, the most common place of localization is the upper Airways.

Every adult should know what pulmonary tuberculosis is, how the disease is transmitted and in what forms it can develop.

In the closed form, the infection does not extend beyond the formed tubercles. In this case, the person is not contagious. He is only a carrier. The open form is heavier. Lung tissue disintegrates, causing infection to be released along with sputum. Closed form tuberculosis is the primary stage of the disease. Open - secondary.

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis

The primary stages of the disease often have no symptoms and can only be detected during regular fluorography. That is why it must be done at least once a year. Secondary stages of tuberculosis are characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms:

First of all, this prolonged cough, which does not pass.
Sputum discharge and chest pain.
In severe forms - hemoptysis.
Increased night sweats, sometimes accompanied by fever.
Decreased weight and appetite.

The appearance of these signs only indicates an open form.

Many people are interested in whether tuberculosis (closed form) is transmitted or not. The answer is clear: no. A person is only a carrier and in very rare cases can be contagious to others.

The closed form is diagnosed by the following symptoms:

Weakness and fatigue (constant).
When breathing deeply in the chest there are painful sensations.
X-rays show fluid accumulations.

Pulmonary tuberculosis - how is the disease transmitted?

Symptoms of tuberculosis often resemble the common cold. Self-medication can give an insignificant temporary result, and a person with an open form continues to infect others. Often he is not even aware of his illness.

How is open tuberculosis transmitted? They can become infected in the following ways:

By airborne droplets. These are coughing, sneezing, talking, singing. At the same time, the patient releases hundreds of bacteria into the air, and a healthy person with a weakened immune system calmly “catches” them.
Through household items- dishes, bed linen.
In utero. In very rare cases.
Food route of transmission- when a person has consumed contaminated food.

Knowing what pulmonary tuberculosis is and how the disease is transmitted, anyone can protect themselves from this disease. If a prolonged cough and malaise are detected, you should immediately go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. For the purpose of prevention, fluorography of the lungs should be done once a year.

We must also remember that tuberculosis (closed form) is transmitted very rarely, only through close contact (for example, in a married couple), and even then not always.

Treatment of the disease

Depending on what form of the disease was detected, treatment may vary. One way or another, it is carried out permanently. There are special tuberculosis dispensaries in every city. However, they are located at a great distance from residential complexes, given how tuberculosis is transmitted. Treatment lasts at least six months.

The main type of therapy is antibiotics in combination with sanitary and dietary compliance. It is impossible to get rid of tuberculosis at home. Therefore, treatment is carried out only in a hospital under the supervision of experienced specialists. Mild forms of the disease can be completely cured.

The most accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis is fluorography, which clearly shows all foci of infection.

Treatment of the disease takes place in two stages - intensive and long-term therapy. When changes in the lungs become irreversible and chemotherapy does not produce results, surgical methods may be used. Patients with tuberculosis who have not received relief from antibiotics for 6-8 months are treated promptly.

Traditional methods of treatment

They can only be useful in combination with complex therapy. The following have a beneficial effect on the body infected with Koch's bacillus:

Dairy products, in particular milk (up to 2 liters per day).
Juices and grapes.
Marshmallow root infusions (improves expectoration).
Decoctions of plants (coltsfoot, wild rosemary, pine buds).
Fish fat.
White cabbage.

For a quick recovery, patients should follow correct image life, give up alcohol and narcotic substances. Smokers, alcohol-dependent people and drug addicts are at risk.

Have a good impact hiking and sunbathing. They are especially effective for extrapulmonary forms of the disease (tuberculosis of the skin, bones, joints).

The best prevention of the disease is the BCG vaccination, which is given to babies in the maternity hospital. Thus, subsequent Mantoux reactions (tuberculin tests) help to detect the disease at an early stage and begin treatment immediately. In this case, the question of what tuberculosis is, how the open form is transmitted and how it is treated will not arise. The disease can be dealt with much faster.

Extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis

The insidiousness of the Koch bacterium is that, once it enters the body, it can affect absolutely any organ. Most often, tuberculosis attacks the lungs, but extrapulmonary forms also occur:

Tuberculosis of the digestive system ( small intestine, cecum).
Tuberculosis of the genitourinary system (kidneys, genitals, urinary tract).
Tuberculosis of the central nervous system (spinal cord, head).
Tuberculosis of bones and joints.
Tuberculosis of the skin, eyes.

As a result, a focus of infection forms in each of the affected organs. The disease causes pain in them and disrupts their functions.

Symptoms of extrapulmonary forms

The disease can be recognized using x-rays or tuberculin test. Extrapulmonary forms lead to the formation of cavities (cavities) on any organ and the disintegration of their tissues. In this case, the patient may complain about the most various diseases- conjunctivitis, migraines, cystitis - and not even suspect the development of tuberculosis in the body.

Signs of the disease can be very different:

Pain, swelling of the skin.
Fever.
Drowsiness and fatigue.
Pain in organs.
Sweating, especially night sweating.
Loss of weight and appetite.

Many patients are interested in the question of how extrapulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted. The answer is simple: just like its other forms. After all, the causative agent is the same mycobacterium.

Treatment of extrapulmonary tuberculosis is carried out inpatiently with a complex of therapy, physical procedures and other necessary measures. Often used surgical method, with the help of which the affected areas of tissue are removed.

Tuberculosis during pregnancy

Carrying a child is a very responsible process for everyone. expectant mother. During pregnancy, a woman’s body becomes, like no other, vulnerable and susceptible to various infections and diseases. All due to weakened immunity.

Knowing how tuberculosis is transmitted, a pregnant woman should be especially careful when visiting crowded places and especially avoid contact with infected patients. Indeed, often the patient does not even suspect that he has a dangerous illness.

However, there are cases that a woman became infected long before her pregnancy, and all this time the disease “slept” in the body, waiting for the right moment.

Most often, tuberculosis during pregnancy is detected in the first trimester, a little less often - in the second. Symptoms:

Malaise.
Fever.
Chills and fever.
Cough (persistent and dry).

All signs can be mistaken for toxicosis. The disease progresses and drags on.

The disease can be diagnosed in pregnant women using a tuberculin test, as well as fluorography. It is prescribed in extreme cases. After all, radiation is dangerous for the fetus.

Pulmonary forms of tuberculosis, unlike extrapulmonary ones, do not penetrate the child and do not pose any particular danger. However, the therapy itself, which includes long courses of antibiotics, poses a threat. Birth in pregnant women with tuberculosis is usually premature.

Tuberculosis in children

You can suspect the development of infection in children using the Mantoux test. The first vaccine - BCG vaccination- they do it to the baby in the maternity hospital. Complications after the test almost always indicate a primary infection with tuberculosis.

The child often has no symptoms. However, parents can observe:

Bad dream.
Moodiness.
Fatigue quickly.
Stomach upsets.
Loss of body weight.
Lack of appetite.
Increased temperature (up to 39 degrees).
The cough may be mild.
There is no pain or shortness of breath.

Treatment of the disease is carried out inpatiently with antibiotic therapy, which is not stopped for six months. In combination they also use physical therapy, breathing exercises, dietary food, water and others wellness treatments, increasing immunity.

Nutrition for tuberculosis

Of great importance in case of tuberculosis is proper nutrition. Since the patient is constantly losing weight, all efforts are aimed at stabilizing his weight. The diet should be at least 4 meals a day.

The patient's diet includes increased amount proteins, dairy products, meat and seafood, as well as vegetables, fruits and juices. You need twice as much vitamins, especially group B and C.

Often prescribed to patients with tuberculosis therapeutic diet No. 11, which involves the use of all familiar products. However, this is provided that the patient does not have digestive problems.

It is necessary to limit the consumption of very fatty meat and fish, chocolate, cakes and creams, as well as spicy and salty foods.

Be healthy!

The twenty-first century is marked by the development of new technologies, which have not bypassed medicine. But still, some diseases remain difficult to cure or incurable at all. These include severe forms of tuberculosis.

Every adult should know what tuberculosis is, its symptoms, and how the disease is transmitted. This is the only way to protect yourself from serious illness. Don't neglect in a healthy way life. People with bad habits more susceptible to infection.

This infectious disease caused by microbacteria primarily affects the human lungs, and in acute forms can spread the infection to other organs. Knowledge of how tuberculosis is transmitted and how to treat it will be useful to any person. Of particular danger is the ability of the disease to spread easily through airborne droplets. This fact suggests that no one is immune from “meeting” the disease in transport or in a store.

Classification of pulmonary tuberculosis

If the disease is not treated, it will begin to develop and move from one stage of complications to others (for example, miliary or infiltrative tuberculosis). The very first symptoms are similar to a common cold: cough, fever, lethargy, and with such complaints in the modern rhythm of life and work, not every sick person will consult a doctor. It is worth knowing that the disease’s bacteria live in street dust for up to three months, and people become infected through both non-contact and contact methods - holding a bus handrail, kissing, through library books, even finishing smoking someone else’s cigarette.

Deadly disease has its own classification:

Primary tuberculosis. This form is often found in children/adolescents because they the immune system not fully strengthened. This type of disease develops after the very first infection and contact with microbacteria. The pathogen settles in the lungs and begins to develop. Almost always, the body copes with this disease at the primary stage on its own without special treatment.
Secondary tuberculosis. This type in most cases develops as a result of exacerbation of foci of the primary stage of the disease and other complications. This phase of the disease is characterized by broncho- and lymphogenous lesions. There is a possibility of secondary tuberculosis appearing after complete cure of the primary one, since the immune system does not have time to recover quickly.

Forms and signs of the disease

How is tuberculosis transmitted and what are its symptoms? The disease can occur in two forms: closed or open. Both types of disease have their own signs/symptoms. But do not forget how tuberculosis is transmitted - both forms are equally dangerous and are spread by airborne droplets. The very first symptoms are very misleading and similar to regular flu. If you do not contact a specialist on time, the disease will develop to a complicated stage and lead to fatal outcome.

Closed

With this form of tuberculosis, the threat of infecting another person is much less - the bacteria have not fully established themselves in the patient’s body and are just beginning to develop. Once established in the lungs, the disease is asymptomatic, and the carrier of the disease may not even suspect that he is infected. Closed tuberculosis poses the greatest danger to young children and people suffering from immunodeficiency. Closed form tuberculosis is best learned from a doctor and how the disease is transmitted, and independent diagnosis will lead to serious complications.

Open

This is the most dangerous form of tuberculosis, which affects the lungs and respiratory tract. She has the following symptoms:

High temperature (37-38 degrees).
Severe prolonged cough.
Pain in the area chest.
Lack of appetite.
Drowsiness, lethargy, fatigue.
Abrupt loss weight.
Cough producing sputum or blood.

Risk groups for morbidity:

Older generation (adults or elderly people).
HIV-infected people and people with AIDS, oncology, diabetes mellitus.
Drug addicts, chronic alcoholics.
Homeless people, people of low social level, living in unsanitary conditions.

The main danger of open tuberculosis is possible death if the disease is not treated in a timely manner. At an early stage, the disease can be treated with antibiotics. It is necessary to undergo a rehabilitation course in a special pulmonology center in order to protect other people from the disease. Although the incidence of the disease has decreased by 40% since the 90s, the risk of contracting it remains high. Therefore, all people simply need to know how open tuberculosis is transmitted.

Ways of transmission of the disease

Range possible ways transmission of lung disease is very wide. The source of infection in the body develops rapidly, but often hidden. Diagnose tuberculosis, incubation period which is impossible to identify at home and difficult, so if you have any suspicions, it is best to consult a doctor. Methods of transmission of tuberculosis:

Airborne.
Contact.
Food.
Intrauterine.

Airborne

This method of transmitting tuberculosis is the most dangerous, since Koch bacteria enter the human body without physical contact with the patient. Invisible droplets of infection spread in the air when coughing, sneezing, talking, and then disperse over various distances from two to nine meters. Microbacteria from saliva settle on the floor and mix with dust. In this state, they remain viable for up to three months and are one of the factors in the occurrence of the disease.

Contact

You can become infected with tuberculosis through damaged skin and mucous membranes of the eye. The contact method is rare, but you should always carefully monitor unprotected areas of the body when in contact with sick people or animals. When the mucous membrane of the eye is damaged, the disease is accompanied by acute conjunctivitis and inflammation of the lacrimal sac.

Food (nutritional)

It is possible to become infected with tuberculosis through food products - pork meat, chicken eggs, milk and others. The process of occurrence of the source of the disease occurs in the intestines, but to get sick in this way, a larger number of bacteria is needed than, for example, with the airborne droplet method. Often, infection occurs when patients with pulmonary tuberculosis swallow their own sputum.

Intrauterine

There is a possibility of contracting tuberculosis during pregnancy or childbirth through infection in the damaged placenta. Cases of intrauterine infection result in the death of the child after birth. An illness acquired in this way is less common than all others, and has epidemiological significance when current development practically no medicine.

How are extrapulmonary forms of the disease transmitted?

Tuberculosis can affect not only the human lungs; other organs are also susceptible to the penetration of bacteria and the spread of infection. The disease can develop:

In the intestines. Characterized by significant disturbances in the functioning of the digestive organs. The intestinal walls, where the pathogen enters with food, are highly susceptible to infection. The complexity of the diagnosis lies in the similarity of the symptoms of gastrointestinal tuberculosis with other pathologies, such as intestinal infection, ulcer duodenum.
In bones and joints. This is a common form of tuberculosis that affects the bones of the thighs, legs, and in some cases the vertebrae. Treatment of such a disease is complex and long-term, with constant examination of surrounding areas and organs. This is due to the fact that often the disease is hard tissues is formed from a closed form of infection of the lungs. It’s easy to find out how bone tuberculosis is transmitted, but protecting yourself from it is a difficult task.
IN genitourinary system. The destructive effect of Koch bacilli is often experienced by the kidneys, ureters and bladder. Not timely treatment will lead to deformation of organs, which can lead to serious complications. The disease spreads throughout the genitourinary system possible ways.
In the lymph nodes. The disease also affects the biological filter system. Many people ask doctors what is lymph node tuberculosis and how is this disease transmitted? Professionals note that it is possible to fall victim to this particular disease by any of the above types of infection. At the first stage, tuberculosis of the lymph nodes is not contagious, but in the future it develops into a full-fledged open form and destroys the immune system.

In addition to the organs described above, tuberculosis less often affects the testicles, uterus, prostate gland, nerve endings, meninges, skin. All of these forms of the disease are dangerous to health, so if there is any suspicion, doctors advise urgently visiting a medical facility for diagnosis and comprehensive examination body. Delayed treatment in most cases leads to death.

Prevention of tuberculosis infection

In the prevention of this ancient, dangerous disease important role immunization of children with anti-tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) plays a role. It protects the body from both primary and severe, extrapulmonary forms of the disease. Helps identify illness early stages planned fluorographic studies. It is possible to protect yourself from the disease if you avoid factors that weaken the body’s immunity: carefully follow diet, rest, and work regimens. Prevention of the fatal disease involves quitting smoking and overuse alcohol.

Video: how to recognize tuberculosis

To know which tuberculosis is transmitted and which of the existing methods, it is not necessary to have special medical knowledge. Professional doctors will tell you about some important points things you need to know about this disease.

Tuberculosis has long been considered in medicine as one of the most common and dangerous diseases. Despite all the achievements modern science, the disease cannot be defeated, and people continue to die from it every year. The disease is insidious in its unpredictability; it has several behavior patterns.

Depending on various circumstances, a tuberculosis infection can go undetected or cause serious health problems, including death.

Is tuberculosis contagious and how contagious? Let’s look at this in more detail.

The “culprit” of tuberculosis: what happens when infected?

The degree of danger depends on the form and stage in which it is determined in a person this disease. The most dangerous is. A disease in a closed form (latent) has less ability to transmit infection to the external environment.

Having invaded the body, mycobacteria may not manifest itself for years. The person is completely unaware that his condition poses a threat to others—his health does not give any signals of an “invasion.” Meanwhile, the infection begins to slowly but methodically spread throughout internal organs– tuberculosis intoxication of the body occurs.

Harmful bacteria travel through the cells through the bloodstream, choosing the most unprotected organs to stop. human body. Having established themselves in a convenient place, mycobacteria begin their destructive work.

From this moment on, a person is considered a carrier of tuberculosis, and he becomes especially dangerous to society.

If the body is strong, the immune system is mobilized to fight the aggressor. Weak immunity is not able to cope with Koch's bacillus on its own; it requires long-term and serious treatment.

Tuberculosis begins its development with the formation of primary affect in the affected area. Koch bacilli are captured by macrophages (special cells capable of aggressively capturing other bacteria, particles of dead cells, and other microparticles harmful to the body), penetrating into the lymphatic system.

Mycobacteria have two routes of penetration into organs: lymphogenous or hematogenous.

In the affected areas, a granulomatous process begins to develop: focal necrosis forms in the central part, surrounded by lymphocytes, macrophages, and epithelial cells. The result of granuloma is sclerosis.

In medicine, it is customary to divide the disease into pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms. The first is the most common, the second is numerous and has many variations.

Tuberculosis at the beginning of its journey: how contagious is the initial form of the disease?

There is an opinion that in the embryonic state the infection is quite harmless and tuberculosis infection cannot occur - the bacilli are still too weak and have a short-term effect on the body. However, this is not entirely true. It all depends on the form of manifestation of the disease, which regulates the degree of its contagiousness.

There is no clear answer to the question of whether tuberculosis is transmitted at the initial stage. First of all, it is necessary to understand which phase is considered the initial one: the actual introduction of mycobacteria into organs, or its infiltrative form.

If the definition means the first option, the starting point of tuberculosis is not terrible. In addition, the disease may not manifest itself in any way throughout the life of the infected person.

Another thing is the infiltrative phase. This stage is highly contagious because hallmark This phase is characterized by a cough that sprays droplets of sputum into the environment.

The initial stage, even in its most harmless form, is a serious reason to pay attention to your own health, so as not to miss the possible moment of transition of harmless, “dormant” tuberculosis into an active form with the most serious consequences.

“Risk groups”: who is at risk from Koch’s wand

Just a few years ago, it was believed that only disadvantaged segments of the population get sick with tuberculosis - prisoners in prison, people without a fixed place of residence and other citizens leading an asocial lifestyle.

The disease in such cases had an open, long-standing form and was maximally contagious to the environment of the carrier.

The disease was often detected in people living in difficult living conditions, with low incomes, and socially unprotected people. However, in Lately Mycobacterium began to be diagnosed in quite prosperous people. It turned out that no one is protected from tuberculosis - the disease is so tenacious and omnivorous.

Diabetics, people with gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in the case of constant hormonal treatment.

The most “infectious” forms of the disease

If the diagnosis is accurately established, the first thing that interests the sick person and his everyday environment is whether the detected disease is contagious or not, how successfully it is cured.

To the category of the most dangerous diseases applies open tuberculosis lungs. This variety poses a health threat not only to the carrier itself, but also to everyone who somehow comes into contact with him in everyday life.

In this case, the highest ability of mycobacteria to infect everyone within a radius of several tens of meters from the owner of the Koch bacillus is observed.

Transmission of a pulmonary infection occurs through airborne droplets when a sick person coughs or sneezes.

It “distributes” many tiny tuberculosis bacilli into the environment and soil from infected sputum, which is spat out by the carrier of the disease.

Tuberculosis is insidious and infectious, having “made a nest” in other organs: kidneys, bone tissue, lymphatic system, genitals. The number of people infected with extrapulmonary species is somewhat less than those with pulmonary tuberculosis, however, here too, frequent results are severe complications and death.

Infection can be avoided: measures to prevent tuberculosis

Unfortunately, even the most experienced and titled doctor is unable to guarantee protection against tuberculosis infection - the area of spread of the infection is too large. However, a few useful pieces of knowledge can help you take steps to protect yourself from this serious disease.

Firstly, try to avoid direct contact with carriers of open tuberculosis. If contact is unavoidable (in case of illness among family members), it is not always possible to completely eliminate the risk of infection. In this case, you must carefully follow the recommendations of the doctor treating the sick relative.

The room must be ventilated and disinfected—mycobacterium tuberculosis retains its ability to infect for quite a long time. The patient must be provided with dishes and personal hygiene items for individual use.

Second rule - In public places, it is necessary to stay away from fellow citizens who are coughing or sneezing, especially if saliva is freely sprayed into the air.

The listed measures can reduce the possibility of contracting an infection, but a more significant guarantee is timely vaccinations against tuberculosis, regular visits to the fluorography room and timely treatment of detected tuberculosis.

There are diseases that are particularly common among people. The development of most of them can be completely prevented if you have information about the routes of their transmission and take appropriate preventive measures. IN modern world Of great importance is the role of public awareness about the possibility of being affected by such ailments: through the media, at lectures in general educational institutions and in organizations, medical institutions, etc. One of the most common diseases of this type is tuberculosis. Let's clarify how tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person?

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Koch bacillus). There are two main forms of this disease - pulmonary and extrapulmonary. And the main source of the causative agent of such a disease is an individual with tuberculosis who spreads Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of particular importance when affected by this disease is direct, prolonged, as well as close contact completely healthy person with the patient.

Infection with tuberculosis most often occurs in families, in places of residence, or in groups in which the source of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been present for quite a long time.

It is worth noting that the probability of occurrence and course infectious lesion determined not only by the aggression of the pathogen, but also by resistance and reactivity healthy body.

What are the routes of transmission of tuberculosis?

Doctors say that tuberculosis is transmitted to humans in four main ways:

Airborne;
- nutritional;
- contact;
- intrauterine.

Airborne path transfers

Mycobacterium tuberculosis enters the environment through droplets when a person with active tuberculosis coughs, talks, or sneezes. If a healthy person inhales such air, aggressive particles penetrate into his lungs.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can spread over different distances. During a cough, they are released two meters or more, and during a sneeze - even nine meters. Basically, sputum particles are concentrated one meter in front of an unhealthy person.

After droplets of aggressive sputum settle on the floor, they dry out and become dust particles. Such particles contain tuberculosis mycobacteria, and they, in turn, remain viable for some time. Even eighteen days after entering the environment, about one percent of active bacteria remains in dried sputum. During strong movement air, sweeping the floor and moving people, dust particles in which tuberculosis mycobacteria are present begin to rise into the air.

Also, aggressive particles enter the environment when shaking out clothes, bed linen and other patient supplies. This way they can penetrate the lungs of a healthy person and cause infection.

Alimentary route of transmission (along the digestive tract)

Tuberculosis does not spread from person to person through nutrition.

Contact method of transmission of tuberculosis

There is evidence that it is possible to become infected with tuberculosis through the conjunctiva of the eye in young children and adults. Infection can lead to the development acute conjunctivitis and to inflammation of the lacrimal sac.
Infection of tuberculosis through the skin from person to person is extremely rare. This situation is only possible if the Koch bacillus enters the body through a fresh cut or scratch on the skin, through abrasions and cracks.

Intrauterine transmission of tuberculosis

Doctors say that tuberculosis infection is transmitted from person to person intrauterinely. However, this method of transmission is quite rare. Most often, even women who suffer from an active form of tuberculosis give birth to completely healthy and full-term babies. In the event that after the birth the child is immediately isolated, and then vaccinated and provided with the necessary hygienic and dietary conditions for further development, the baby will grow up completely healthy and will not get tuberculosis.

The placenta is reliable barrier for penetration of Koch's stick into children's body: from maternal blood into the blood of the growing fetus. Therefore, intrauterine infection occurs rarely. This is possible if the infection is generalized and tuberculous tubercles appear on the placenta. Damage can also occur due to birth trauma, if the blood of the mother and the blood of the fetus are mixed.

Even if Mycobacterium tuberculosis gets on the skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract and digestive tract, the development of the disease does not always occur. After all, for many centuries, humanity has been faced with tuberculosis, which led to the development of natural defense mechanisms against Koch's bacillus.

The likelihood of getting sick increases with immunity disorders, traumatic lesions, inflammatory diseases and chronic diseases. However, it is worth considering that a third of the population can transmit their tuberculosis to another person. globe, which is a permanent carrier of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.