More than 70% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the causative agent of this disease is found in the intestine. Additionally, adjacent areas are affected, such as mesenteric lymph nodes, peritoneum, anorectal area. Tuberculosis of the intestine provokes the formation of numerous ulcers on the mucous membranes of the organ, which subsequently is fraught with the appearance of adhesions, the proliferation of tissue and the appearance of tumors.
Is TB of the intestines contagious?
Usually the disease under consideration arises against a background of extensive lung damage, representing a secondary form of an open type of disease, which is highly contagious. But there are other ways of infection.
Here's how the intestinal tuberculosis is transmitted:
- through the womb of the mother;
- by direct contact;
- with food or drinks;
- contact with damaged skin with contaminated substance.
In addition, the often described pathology develops as a result of ingestion of a person's own saliva and sputum, expectorated from the lungs affected by mycobacteria tuberculosis.
Symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis
At the onset of disease progression, symptoms may be absent or resemble an ordinary cold, influenza:
- sweating;
- subfebrile fever;
- malaise;
- deterioration of appetite;
- nausea;
- heaviness in the abdomen;
- flatulence.
Further development of intestinal tuberculosis is characterized by such manifestations:
- diarrhea, constipation;
- persistent abdominal pain, especially around the navel;
- weight loss;
- symptoms of intestinal obstruction;
- hyperthermia;
- presence of dense nodules in the abdominal cavity, which are easy to detect when probed;
- ascites .
Diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis
Pathology is most often detected at a phthisiatric reception after examination and palpation of the abdomen.
In addition, the following research methods are used:
- radiography;
- Ultrasound;
- intradermal tuberculin test;
- analysis of blood, feces;
- colonoscopy ;
- biopsy;
- sigmoidoscopy;
- sowing of aspiration material.
Treatment of intestinal tuberculosis
Therapy of mycobacterium affection of the peritoneum organs is almost identical to the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis:
- Reception of chemotherapy and antibiotics - Streptomycin, PASK, Etambutol, Ftivazid, Ethionamide, Tibon, Cycloserin, Tubazid.
- Compliance with a diet with a balanced amount of proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, amino acids and fats.
- Nonspecific therapy - antipirinovye, chamomile enemas, warming compresses on the stomach, the introduction (intravenously and intramuscularly) of B vitamins, glucose with ascorbic acid.