Intestinal tuberculosis: symptoms and treatment

Along with cancer, tuberculosis is widespread throughout the world. It is caused by Koch's wand, falling from a sick person to a healthy one, by airborne transmission. Intestinal tuberculosis, the symptoms of which we will consider in our article, most often acts as a secondary disease in patients with focal lesions in the lungs or other organs.

Intestinal Tuberculosis: Definition

The named pathology is a chronic disease of an infectious nature of spread that develops in the body by transferring mycobacteria from the lungs to the digestive organs or by direct exposure through saliva and infected products. Tuberculosis is characterized by the appearance of neoplasms in the colon or small intestine, with their transition to ulcerative nodules, the formation of large cavities and soreness with superficial palpation.

A similar disease is a rather rare occurrence. It manifests itself in about 40 people per 100 thousand of the total population. Tuberculosis is detected most often after death. During the life of the patient, it qualifies as ulcerative colitis.

What are the causes of intestinal tuberculosis ?

Intestinal tuberculosis is closely associated with certain causes:

1. Infection of the digestive organ with mycobacterium Koch.
2. Decrease in the body's immune forces.

In addition, intestinal tuberculosis can develop as a reaction to the following pathological processes:

1. The presence of abscesses, closely related to the state of the intestinal mucosa and its immunity.
2. Tobacco and alcohol abuse.
3. HIV infection.
4. The presence of diabetes.
5. Constantly in a stressful situation.
6. Work in places hazardous to health.

One more nuance of this disease should be taken into account. If you want to know if intestinal tuberculosis is contagious or not, the answer will be unequivocal: yes.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

To find out what symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis have, the first signs of how this disease is transmitted, many turn to dubious sites and, quite logically, get there unconfirmed information. Meanwhile, despite the general asymptomaticness of the disease, doctors still distinguish the following manifestations of this pathology:

1. Pain Especially often they occur during palpation or suddenly. Sometimes they are permanent, with intermediate cuts throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Diarrhea, constipation. The chair is intermittent, sometimes liquid and frequent, sometimes characterized by the inability to recover.
3. Gag reflex, nausea. It can occur during the day and accompany the patient from 1 to 3 days.
4. On palpation of the abdominal cavity, seals are often felt. Along with the detection of nodules, the patient feels pain.
5. Flatulence.
6. Soreness of the cecum.
7. The appearance in the stool of blood. It can be released in large and small quantities. It has a brown tint.

In general, such signs can occur both a year after the onset of tuberculosis and 15 years later. It all depends on the correct lifestyle, the general health of the patient and the absence of tumors.

Intestinal tuberculosis: how it develops

The intestine is affected by Koch's bacillus, most often in the presence of existing tuberculosis. At the same time, it does not matter in which organ it appeared initially: in the lungs, lymph nodes, spine, or in urination organs. Koch's stick enters the intestine through the flow of blood or lymph, or through the use of dairy products that have not undergone heat treatment, which came from cows infected with tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis chooses one of two varieties of gut as its habitat:

1. Iliac, located in the lower part of the small intestine. In it, the disease develops in the form of ulceration, as well as the growth of granules in a hypertrophic form and narrowing of the intestinal lumen.
2. Blind, located just below the place where the small intestine passes into the large. The initial stage of intestinal tuberculosis is a lesion of the lymphatic system of the intestinal wall with the manifestation of ulcers located throughout the diameter. Next, inflammation forms on the lymph nodes and the formation of tuberculous granules in the outer shell of the ulcer. All this leads to the development of peritonitis and the formation of compounds.

In addition to the above signs that characterize intestinal tuberculosis, the symptoms can be as follows:

• general weakness of the body;
• a sharp increase in temperature;
• weight loss;
• loss of appetite.

Often, the patient suffers from diarrhea with bleeding, which does not stop when taking anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal drugs. With the course of the disease, the symptoms of intestinal tuberculosis in adults are transformed into phase exacerbation and subsidence.

Quite often, patients experience pain in the navel. When you change the position of the body or getting physical activity, the pain intensifies.

If tuberculosis of the intestine, the symptoms of which we consider in the article, is not treated promptly, then an ulcer breakthrough from the intestine into the abdominal cavity may form with the appearance of peritonitis in one or more places at the same time.

How is pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed?

Since intestinal tuberculosis is often hidden under other types of diseases, the analysis of blood, urine and feces, as well as the study of the gastric cavity, are not effective enough. They are able to give only a general picture of the disease, but not its stage and an effective treatment technique.

What else is needed to confirm the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis? Symptoms, the first signs and clinical tests are insufficient for this, and experts suggest the following examinations:

1. Radiography. It allows you to detect a change in the walls of the intestine, as well as the complete absence of its work for a certain amount of time. In addition, x-ray of the intestine with contrast allows you to get data on the location and type of infection of the intestine. So, when an ulcer occurs, small cavities form, and when the intestinal cells die, a tuberous infiltrate is formed. In any of these cases, uneven edges, deformation, as well as compaction and complete smoothness of the intestine are formed at the site of the lesion. To make a final diagnosis, doctors conduct such additional tests as CT, ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs.
2. The study of the walls of the stomach by endoscopy. When the probe is swallowed, patients are examined the walls of the intestine in order to identify ulcerative formations. In addition, a biopsy tissue sampling is performed using a special probe, followed by a study in the field of histology and microbiology.

Thus, a serious approach by a doctor is required if suspicion of intestinal tuberculosis is detected. Symptoms diagnostics carried out using an x-ray and an endoscope, allows you to identify the patient at a fairly early stage of development.

What are the types of intestinal tuberculosis?

There are several types of this disease. Each of them depends on the area of ​​localization of painful sensations and manifestations of ulcers:

1. Ulcerative. It is characterized by a large number of formations in the intestine.
2. Ulcerative hypertrophic. It represents the presence of ulcers with the gradual death of the tissues of the stomach and intestines.
3. Hypertrophic. Complete death of abdominal tissues.
4. Stenosing. The main area of ​​localization is on the walls of the lymph vessels.

In addition to this, two more forms of tuberculosis are distinguished:

1. Adhesive.
2. Exudative.

Despite the difference in manifestations and localization, treatment is carried out equally in all cases.

Possible complications of intestinal tuberculosis

If tuberculosis of the intestine is not detected on time (symptoms, the treatment of which we are considering), then the patient may experience the following types of complications:

1. Obstruction in the intestines. Obstruction of the intestine is formed by waste products, followed by a breakthrough into the abdominal cavity.
2. Narrowing the lumen of the intestine with impaired passage. It is characterized by poor waste maneuverability.
3. Isolation of blood in the gut. It may be present during bowel movements.
4. Breakthrough of ulcerative formations. Accompanied by dull or sharp pain.
5. Peritonitis.
6. Disruption of work in the digestive tract.

Drug treatment of tuberculosis

If a patient with intestinal tuberculosis showed symptoms of pathology quite early, then he is prescribed medications in conjunction with chemotherapeutic procedures. In case of late detection or the presence of adhesions in the small, rectum or colon - surgical intervention. All therapeutic effects are carried out strictly in the dispensary conditions of a specialized type.

The doctor prescribes the following medications :

• "Streptomycin".
• Ftivazid.
• Tubazid.
• "Para-aminosalicylic acid."
• Isoniazid.
• "Rifampicin".
• PASK.
• Tibon.

In the absence of the desired result, doctors supplement the treatment with the following drugs:

• "Cycloserine."
• Ethambutol.
• Ethionamide.

As practice shows, such treatment is quite effective and effective.

The effectiveness of diets in the treatment of intestinal tuberculosis

Since antibiotics are used as effective drugs for tuberculosis , it is extremely important to adhere to a diet that helps to reduce side effects from their use. It is necessary to take easily digestible and high-calorie foods. Proper nutrition should include:

1. Lenten soups.
2. Cutlets from poultry meat, veal.
3. Fish meals.
4. Curd dishes.
5. Eggs and dishes from them.
6. Butter.
7. Dairy and dairy products.
8. A variety of cereals.
9. Freshly squeezed juices.

In this case, it is strictly forbidden to use the following products:

1. Meat of pigs, geese and rams.
2. Smoked dishes.
3. Various beans.
4. Canned foods.

In case of detection of problems with stool in the form of diarrhea from the diet also exclude:

1. Bakery products.
2. Not cooked vegetables and fruits.
3. A large number of meat products.

It is strictly forbidden to independently treat intestinal tuberculosis! Symptoms, treatment, a photo of this pathology can be found in our article, but if you find in yourself similar signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a specialist.

Preventive actions

To prevent the development of the disease, patients are recommended to undergo compulsory vaccination and fluorographic examination. BCG vaccination is carried out not only to those who have been in contact with patients for a long time, but also to persons under the age of 20 years.

An additional safety measure is taking Isoniazid, as well as boiling dairy products, ventilating the premises and organizing wet cleaning.

Conclusion

To fully avoid infection with tuberculosis, you should carefully consider your health, and also visit a doctor in a timely manner if any pain is manifested in the abdominal region. It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms accompanying intestinal tuberculosis as early as possible. The prognosis of the disease in this case is the most favorable.