THE tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually affects the lung, however, this pathology can also affect other organs, such as the eyes.
THE eye tuberculosis it mainly affects blacks, males and people in childhood or old age, but it can also attack other groups. The disease is also related to pathologies such as diabetes, tumors and AIDS. It is estimated that around 1 to 2% of patients with the pulmonary form have the ocular form of tuberculosis.
the bacillus M.tuberculosis and normally broadcast from person to person by air. Therefore, contamination usually occurs primarily in lung tissue. Ocular involvement usually occurs after an inhalation infection with subsequent lympho-hematogenous dissemination, in which case it is considered a secondary infection.
Eye tuberculosis is considered a primary infection when it is caused by the introduction of the bacteria into the eye, this organ being the initial focus of contamination. This can happen through eye contact with contaminated hands and objects or through exposure to aerosols infected with the bacilli, all of these cases being a rare occurrence.
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The disease can affect all parts of the eyes and adnexa. clinical manifestations the most common are uveitis (inflammation of the uvea), endophthalmitis (inflammation of the eyeball), and tuberculoma. Usually the patient presents photophobia, tearing, eye pain and low visual acuity. Among the main complications related to ocular tuberculosis, we can highlight increased intraocular pressure, cataracts, retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage.
Because it presents various signs and symptoms, the diagnosis it is not always accurate and is mainly based on the analysis of the patient's medical history. There are some specialized tests that can indicate the disease, however, in many cases, they are unnecessary, such as aqueous humor puncture and chorioretinal biopsy. O treatment ocular tuberculosis is specific and varies greatly from patient to patient, and a combination of four drugs is usually used.
If you feel any change in vision, see your doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease can prevent serious consequences such as loss of vision.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Ocular tuberculosis"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/doencas/tuberculose-ocular.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.