Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Margaux Mesle on 04/02/2009 06:30:02

Title: What are the symptoms of bone tuberculosis?
Post by: Margaux Mesle on 04/02/2009 06:30:02

Margaux Mesle asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello naked scientists!

I have a question for you that has been tormenting me for the last few weeks. I now live in Thailand and I was told that bone tuberculosis is very common over here (so is the plague according to one of your previous shows!), but I was wondering, what are the symptoms, how can you catch it and is it as easily treatable as lung tuberculosis?

Thanks, love the show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/), keep it up.

Margaux

What do you think?

Title: What are the symptoms of bone tuberculosis?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 04/02/2009 07:04:47

Quote

TB is particularly likely to attack the spine and the ends of the long bones. Children are especially prone to spinal tuberculosis. If not treated, the spinal segments (vertebrae) may collapse and cause paralysis in one or both legs.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Bone+Tuberculosis

Quote

Bone tuberculosis: Common sites involved include the large weightbearing bones or joints, including the vertebrae (50%), hip (15%), and knee (15%). Destruction of the bones with deformity is a late sign of tuberculosis. Manifestations may include angulation of the spine (gibbus deformity) and/or Pott disease (severe kyphosis with destruction of the vertebral bodies). Cervical spine involvement may result in atlantoaxial subluxation, which may lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia.[size]

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/969401-overview

Treatment time will vary probably anything between six months to a year.