Tuberculosis in the child: symptoms in different forms of the disease

Infectious disease, caused by tuberculosis bacilli (most often Koch's wand) is tuberculosis. In a child, the symptoms of the disease, as in the case of an adult, depend on its form, that is, on what organs the tuberculosis center was formed. But regardless of the form, tuberculosis requires urgent treatment, otherwise eventually a progressive disease will lead to death.

When a child is sick with tuberculosis, the first signs that you can notice are irritability, lack of weight gain, weakness, fatigue, absent-mindedness. Children of school years may start to fall behind in their studies from their peers. There is a slight increase in temperature, an increase in lymph nodes. Children who are sick with tuberculosis have such first symptoms, because the tubercle bacilli in the body first settle in the lymph nodes, where toxins are released.

Tuberculosis of the bronchial glands

This form of the disease in children is found quite often. The bronchial glands are located in the chest, just where the large vessels and bronchi pass, so that Koch's rods with blood flow in them are easily inserted and form foci of inflammation. When the bronchial glands are affected, tuberculosis in the child can cause symptoms different. Sometimes the disease develops like flu, which is manifested by fever, coughing. But this condition can be prolonged for a longer period than it happens with the flu. Sharp development does not always happen. In many children, the disease begins to show itself gradually. At first, behavior changes: they become capricious, sluggish. Then there are weight loss, pallor, cough.

Pulmonary tuberculosis

In a child, the symptoms of this form of the disease are caused by the onset of an inflammatory focus in the lungs and are often accompanied by a long-term increase in temperature. Occurs pulmonary tuberculosis in children less often than that which develops in the bronchial glands, but it also lends itself to treatment more difficult. And yet it is quite possible to heal it. Disintegration of lung tissues is an extreme degree of the disease, which is usually not the case, provided that the treatment is started on time. However, such an unfavorable course of tuberculosis in young children can be observed, so it is extremely important to protect the health of children and strengthen their body.

Tuberculosis of lymph nodes

This form of the disease is also most common in young children. Tuberculosis in the child causes symptoms in the peripheral lymph nodes, which become inflamed, increase significantly in size, can soften and fester. When the pus flows out, non-healing fistulas form outside. Sometimes children have skin lesions, initially having the appearance of a palpable small tumor, which then, like the lymph nodes, increases, softens and fester, eventually releasing the contents outward and forming a fistula.

Tuberculosis of joints and bones

This form of the disease is also diagnosed often, but it develops very slowly, sometimes years. However, at the initial stage, children begin to experience pain when moving in places where an inflammatory focus has formed (most often tubercle bacillus affects the spine, knee or hip joints). Over time, the child's gait changes or there is lameness.