While most of us are familiar with TB affecting the lungs, it’s shocking to learn that it can affect other organs too. Some of these are bones, the brain, the spine and internal organs. When this occurs, it’s known as extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.
This condition is most prevalent in children and HIV positive people. Thus countries that have high rates of HIV infection and TB in children have the highest occurrence of extrapulmonary TB. It is estimated that worldwide, 10 to 25% of TB infections affect organs other than the lungs.
People suffering from this condition have symptoms similar to patients with pulmonary TB: night sweats, fever and weight loss. However, since they also develop symptoms specific to the organs affected by TB, the condition becomes hard to diagnose.
In fact, most doctors associate the symptoms with other problems. For example joint pain may be mistaken for a sprain instead of TB. In addition, extrapulmonary TB often affects organs that are hard to reach such as the liver. Since the bacilli that cause this condition cause a great deal of harm in a short time, the TB spreads faster as compared to pulmonary TB.
There are several forms of extrapulmonary TB:
Pleural TB
This affects the thin skin surrounding the lungs, which separates the lungs from the chest cavity. It’s made of 2 layers. The small space between these layers acts as a multiplication site for bacilli. With time, inflammation and pain occurs. This causes fever and pain when breathing. It also causes buildup of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion).
TB of the Central Nervous System
This occurs when the brain and spinal cord are attacked by bacilli. This results in TB meningitis (the thin layer covering the brain is infected). This strain of TB is dangerous, difficult to treat, and can only be diagnosed by performing a lumbar puncture (extracting central spinal fluid for tests).
TB of the Bone and Joints
Bacilli can infect bones or the joints and cause pain and swelling. To diagnose this TB, X-rays, CT scans and MRIs are required. Samples of the bacilli are also collected for testing.
Lymph Node TB
This is caused by bacilli infecting the lymph nodes in the neck and above the clavicles such that they swell and become inflamed. This is the most common form of extrapulmonary TB.
TB of Other Places
Tb can affect any body part, including the urinary tract, the kidneys and the abdominal cavity.
