Disseminated tuberculosis (infectious)

Alternative names:

miliary tuberculosis; tuberculosis - disseminated

Symptoms:

In adults and children:

• sweating
• fatigue
• general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• weight loss
• cough
• shortness of breath
• fever

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• paleness
• joint pain
• chills
• swollen glands
• abdominal swelling

Note: The symptoms will depend upon the affected body organ.

Signs and tests:

Enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver, and enlarged spleen are revealed with physical exam.

Tests:

• chest X-ray
• sputum cultures
• tuberculin skin test
• bronchoscopy for biopsy or culture
• open lung biopsy
• pleural biopsy
• biopsies of affected organs or tissues
• retinal lesions revealed with fundoscopy

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• peripheral smear
• serum calcium (may be elevated)
• mycobacterial culture of bone marrow

Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial