TYPES

• There are two types of tuberculosis: Pulmonary (Lung) TB and Extra pulmonary TB
  
  
• Pulmonary TB constitutes 80 - 85% of all the TB cases. It is further subdivided into two types:
  
  • Sputum Positive (Infectious) 
  • Sputum Negative (Non-infectious)
• Extra pulmonary TB involves parts of the body other than the lung such as lymph nodes, skin, brain, kidney, liver, intestines, reproductive organs, bone and joints.
   
• Disseminated TB involves more than one organ in the body.
  
  

• Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB): In MDR-Tuberculosis the TB germs are resistant to at least Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin, the two most important anti-TB drugs. The resistance may extend to other first line as well as second line drugs. MDR-TB occurs as an end result of either poor treatment in the form of inadequate drug/dose combinations or irregular treatment (regular missing of doses) by the patient. It is very difficult and expensive to treat this type of TB and it should be managed by TB specialists. MDR-TB can be prevented by early diagnosis and adequate treatment of all TB cases.