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Disseminated tuberculosis

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Disseminated tuberculosis

Definition:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is "disseminated" if it has spread from the lungs to other organs of the body by the blood or lymph system. See also tuberculosis - pulmonary.

Alternative Names:
Miliary tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - disseminated; Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The infection can develop after inhaling droplets sprayed into the air as from a cough or sneeze by someone infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is characterized by the development of granulomas (granular tumors) in the infected tissues.

The usual site of the disease is the lungs, but other organs may be involved. The primary infection usually has no symptoms. In the United States, 95% of individuals will have healing of their primary tuberculous lesions with no further evidence of disease. Disseminated disease develops in the minority whose immune systems do not successfully heal the primary infection.

The disease may occur within weeks after the primary infection, or may lie dormant for years before causing illness. Infants and the elderly are at higher risk for rapid progression to disease, because of their weaker immune systems.