Page 199 - fourth year book

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (T.B)

stalled at this stage in some cases by proper isoniazid preventive
therapy.

 This state might last for the lifespan or progress to active TB (Primary
disease in 5% of cases) or later in life through reactivation (5%) of the
existing LTBI (if the immune system cannot keep the tubercle bacilli

under control thus it begins to multiply rapidly), with a lifetime risk
of 5–10% that is exacerbated by host immune-compromising factors.

 Reactivation of TB can be cured by compliance with drug therapy.
However, untreated or poorly treated TB might lead to the formation
of TB lesions in the lung (cavitation). Subsequently, in a cyclic
manner, the TB bacilli are transmitted to other individuals to establish
primary infection.

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