Some people think that TB and pneumonia are the same, even though they are two different diseases. The difference is in the cause of the disease and the symptoms, so the treatment is different. Under certain conditions both can occur together making it difficult to identify.

TB is an infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the infection occurs in the lungs, and can spread to other body organs such as the brain, lymph nodes and spine. A person can become infected with TB bacteria through splashes of saliva when a tuberculosis sufferer coughs, sneezes, or even talks.

PNEUMONIA  is inflammation of the lungs caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Pneumonia causes the lungs to fill with fluid or pus and makes it difficult for sufferers to breathe. A person can get pneumonia when they come into contact with surfaces contaminated with viruses or bacteria that cause pneumonia. Pneumonia viruses or bacteria can spread through the surface of objects, while TB germs cannot survive for long on the surface of objects.

PNEUMONIA and TB can be differentiated based on their symptoms. In pneumonia, the symptoms are: fever, cough with phlegm, chest pain when breathing or coughing, weakness. With quick treatment, sufferers can breathe normally again. However, pneumonia generally can get worse quickly if experienced by babies, children, people who have weak immune systems, and the elderly. Severe pneumonia can cause complications in the form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or respiratory failure.

TB bacteria attack the body slowly. Symptoms of TB disease usually only appear after several weeks or months after a person is exposed to TB germs.

Some symptoms of TB disease: cough that does not go away for more than 3 weeks, coughing up blood, loss of appetite and weight loss, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, night sweats, fever for more than 1 month. Other symptoms caused by TB can be related to infected body organs, for example bone pain indicates symptoms of spinal TB or swollen lymph nodes due to glandular TB.

To diagnose pneumonia and tuberculosis, doctors require a physical examination and laboratory tests. Laboratory tests used to diagnose TB and pneumonia include:

Examination of sputum (BTA preparations, TB PCR, sputum culture, BTA culture, fungal preparations)

Blood examination (Complete Hematology, IGRA, TB PCR, ADA test, HIV, VDRL, TPHA)

Examination of urine (TB Lam)

X-ray photo

Mantoux examination

Examination of body fluids (ADA test, Cytology of body fluids)

If pneumonia or TB is diagnosed, treatment is generally carried out by administering medication by a doctor which must be consumed according to the instructions for use. Pneumonia treatment generally takes around 1-3 weeks, depending on the severity of the disease experienced by the sufferer, while TB treatment usually lasts quite a long time, namely around 6-12 months. TB sufferers need to continue taking anti-tuberculosis drugs (OAT), even though their TB symptoms have improved or disappeared.

Support from health workers which includes health education, home visits, drug availability (OAT) and quality of TB drugs (OAT) to TB and pneumonia sufferers is very important in providing information about the importance of taking medication regularly and completely, explaining the correct rules for taking medication and symptoms of side effects that the patient may experience as well as the staff's willingness to listen to the patient's complaints and provide solutions.

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Author : Ira Puspita Sari, S.Tr.A.K (Laboratory Technical Manager, Pramita Clinical Laboratory Cirebon Branch Jl. Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo no.95 Cirebon )