Like all infectious diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis has its incubation period. It is calculated by the period of time between the moment of penetration of the pathogen into the body (infection) and the onset of the appearance of the first clinical signs of pathology. This disease is caused by a complex of mycobacteria, of which several species are capable of infecting people.
Especially dangerous is the open form of tuberculosis, when the carrier of the infection isolates pathogens, and surrounding people are at risk of infection. Basically, this form of the disease develops in people who have not previously been in contact with tuberculosis bacteria.
The incubation period of an open form of tuberculosis
The duration of the incubation period for tuberculosis before the onset of initial symptoms is, on average, 3 to 4 weeks. At this time a person does not isolate pathogenic bacteria into the environment, i.e. not contagious.
However, it is worthwhile to know that the mycobacteria that do not always get into the body cause an infectious process. Several important factors play a role here. The most important thing is the state of the immune system. The organism of a healthy person with good immunity, the protective forces of which are mobilized, hinders the development of the disease.
People with weak immunity, infected with HIV , suffering from other pathologies, get sick faster. The infection that enters the respiratory tract is in favorable conditions, penetrates into the circulatory system, from where it is sent to the lungs. Thus, the disease develops, which soon begins to manifest itself.
How to identify tuberculosis during the incubation period?
It is impossible to identify the disease independently in the incubation period. Infection can only indicate a change in the structure of the tissue of the affected lungs, which is determined by means of fluorography. Therefore, this study should be mandatory on a regular basis once a year. Early detection of pathology guarantees easy treatment and complete recovery.
The first clinical manifestations that the patient can detect are not specific and can be regarded as symptoms of respiratory disease. These attributes include:
- weakness;
- increased fatigue;
- slight increase in body temperature;
- night sweats;
- lack of appetite;
- enlargement of lymph nodes .