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Symptoms of TB Infection in Children Q&A

Symptoms of TB Infection in Children Q&A

Children with TB infection experience severe lung problems, including fever, tiredness, weight loss, poor appetite, persistent cough, lymph node swelling, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for avoiding complications. At Columbia Clinic Urgent Care our medical team offers testing and treatment options. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you at Tibbetts St Portland, Stark Street Portland, and Tigard, OR. We also accept walk-ins.

Symptoms of TB Infection in Children Near Me in Portland and Tigard OR
Symptoms of TB Infection in Children Near Me in Portland and Tigard OR

Table of Contents:

What is TB?
What are the signs of TB in a child?
How do you know if TB is infectious?
When do TB symptoms start?
How does TB make you feel?

What is TB?


TB is known as tuberculosis which could be a serious infectious disease and if infected it targets the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are often spread from one individual to another through the tiny droplets that are released into the air when an individual coughs, sneezes, and even talks.

While tuberculosis has decreased in developed countries like the United States due to stronger control programs, it remains a concern within the medical community.

Many tuberculosis strains are drug-resistant, which makes it difficult to treat. Individuals who have active tuberculosis have to take various types of medications for months at a time to help rid the infection and prevent any antibiotic resistance.

What are the signs of TB in a child?


The signs and symptoms of tuberculosis within a child are often different depending on their age; tuberculosis in younger children is noticed as:

● Fever
● Weight loss
● Poor growth
● Cough
● Swollen glands
● Chills

The signs and symptoms of tuberculosis in older children are noticed as:

● Cough which lasts longer than 3 weeks
● Pain within the chest
● Blood found in the sputum
● Weakness
● Tiredness
● Swollen glands
● Weight loss
● Decrease in their appetite
● Fever
● Sweating which occurs at night
● Chills

If you ever notice any of these symptoms occurring in your children, it is best to immediately take them in to see their healthcare provider at Columbia Clinic Urgent Care.

How do you know if TB is infectious?


Tuberculosis is diagnosed by injecting a small amount of tuberculin fluid into the skin located on the arm, your doctor will ask you to return within 48 to 72 hours later and have someone check the arm to see if there is any indication of thickening of the skin, which is a bump that forms. The bump will be measured to know for sure if you are reacting to the fluid which will indicate if it is a positive or negative result.

Tuberculosis is a very serious bacterial infection that noticeably affects the lungs and respiratory system. This is a contagious infection that is often spread through water droplets that go into the air and are taken into another person’s airways when the infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks and has a spray that occurs when they talk.

When do TB symptoms start?


There are two different types of tuberculosis which an individual could be infected with, they are:

1. Latent Tuberculosis: This occurs when you have a tuberculosis infection, but the bacteria within the body is inactive and is not causing any symptoms. This tuberculosis is not contagious.
 
2. Active Tuberculosis: This tuberculosis type is known as tuberculosis disease, and this condition is the one that makes you sick and is contagious. Active tuberculosis can occur weeks or even years after the infection has entered the body.

How does TB make you feel?


If you have active tuberculosis, the tuberculosis bacteria are then multiplying and starting to attack certain areas of the body including the lung(s), bones, kidney, lymph nodes, brain, spine, and even the skin. Once tuberculosis bacteria reach the lungs, they will move through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to start attacking different areas of the body.

You are at a higher risk of being infected with tuberculosis bacteria if you are in close contact with others who are infected, and this includes:

● Family and friends
● People from areas of the world that have high rates of tuberculosis
● People who are in groups with high rates of tuberculosis bacteria transmission
● People who either live or work in centers that have high-risk individuals there that have HIV

Certain individuals who have a weak immune system may also be at higher risk including:

● Infants and young children
● Individuals with chronic conditions
● Anyone with HIV/AIDs
● Organ transplant patients
● Patients who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy
● Individuals receiving treatments for autoimmune disorders

If your child is showcasing signs or symptoms of tuberculosis and thinks they may have been infected with active tuberculosis, contact Columbia Clinic Urgent Care immediately or book an appointment. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Tibbetts St Portland, Milwaukie OR, Oak Grove OR, Stark Street Portland, Fairview OR, Happy Valley OR, Gladstone OR, Cedar Mill OR, Tibbetts Street Portland OR, West Linn OR, Aloha OR, Tigard OR, Lake Oswego OR, Tualatin OR, Oregon City OR.

Columbia Clinic Urgent Care & Walk-in Clinic in Oregon

Mall 205

  • 9415 SE Stark Street, 3rd Floor, Portland OR 97216
  • View Details

82nd Avenue

Tigard, OR

 

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