Difference between Tuberculosis and Pneumonia
Difference between Tuberculosis and Pneumonia

Difference between Tuberculosis and Pneumonia

Tuberculosis and pneumonia are the diseases mainly caused in the lungs. Tuberculosis is the contamination of lungs caused by the Mycobacterium species, the most widely recognized pathogen being Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis primarily happens in the lungs; in any case, it might happen in different organs such as bones. Pneumonia is a provocative condition inside the lungs delivered as an aftereffect of contamination that influences the alveoli.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease brought on by the bacterium named Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). This pathogen was discovered by Robert Koch, a German physician. Tuberculosis, for the most part, influences the lungs, yet it can likewise influence different parts of the body. The symptoms of TB are fever, chronic cough, weight loss, and night sweats. TB continues to rank alongside HIV as a leading cause of death worldwide.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an incendiary state of the lung influencing principally the infinitesimal air sacs called alveoli. The prominent symptoms and signs incorporate a changing seriousness and blend of dry cough, fever, chest pain, and inconvenience in breathing, contingent upon the basic cause. It can be segmental, lobar, or multi-lobar depending upon the area of lung involved. It is divided into the community or hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Tuberculosis VS Pneumonia

  • Microorganism:

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria.

Pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.

  • Species:

Tuberculosis can be caused by the bacteria of mycobacterium species.

Pneumonia can be caused by the virus or bacteria of different species like Streptococcus, Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Legionella, and Chlamydia.

  • Organs:

Tuberculosis can affect the lungs, lymph nodes, GIT, heart, genitourinary system, and skeletal system.

Pneumonia only has its effect on the lungs.

  • Risk Factors:

In tuberculosis, the risk factors include malnutrition, overcrowding, smoking, primary infection < 1 year, HIV, and utilization of medications such as corticosteroids and Infliximab.

In pneumonia, the risk factors are smoking, immunodeficiency, alcoholism, chronic kidney disease, and COPD.

  • Symptoms:

The main symptoms of tuberculosis incorporate weakness, weight loss, chronic cough often with hemoptysis and pyrexia of unknown origin. It can also be asymptomatic which is diagnosed on x-ray.

Extrapulmonary features are lymph node enlargement, arthritis, intestinal obstruction, pericardial effusion, headache, delirium, etc.

The main symptoms of pneumonia incorporate headache, fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, myalgia, sweating, and cough.

  • Extra Pulmonary Symptoms:

There is an existence of extrapulmonary symptoms in tuberculosis.

There is no existence of extrapulmonary symptoms in pneumonia.

  • Sputum:

In tuberculosis, sputum is either absent or mild and generate non-productive cough.

In pneumonia, sputum is present in bulk and with a productive cough.

  • Diagnosis:

Tuberculosis is diagnosed with the help of different tests that include direct microscopy of sputum smear, at least 2 samples. A positive smear is indicative of tuberculosis but accurate diagnosis requires culture. Ziehl-Neelsen stain, chest X-ray, nuclear acid amplification, and baseline blood tests are also done.

Pneumonia can be diagnosed with the help of chest radiographs, sputum tests, pleural fluid culture, and CT scans.

  • Treatment:

Standard treatment of TB is a 6 months’ course with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and streptomycin. 12-month therapy is recommended for meningeal TB.

Pneumonia is a disease that is treated with the help of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

  • Complications:

Tuberculosis can lead to:

Pneumonia can lead to:

  • Pleural effusion
  • Empyema
  • Abscess
  • ARDS

  • Contagious:

Tuberculosis is very contagious as it is in the air and can get by breathing in the air or from somebody who has this disease and coughed or sneezed in the air.

Pneumonia is very less contagious as it is not transmittable from one person to another.

Conclusion

From the above article, we can conclude that both the diseases have major differences but can be treated. Tuberculosis can be mainly cured by drug therapy. Death is likely to occur if a person is smear-positive and a smoker. HIV patients have higher mortality rates and increased chances of relapse. Antibiotic therapy in pneumonia improves the outcome if the antibiotic is prescribed keeping in view the severity and patterns of drug resistance. Which one is more severe?

References:

https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/hospital-medicine/tuberculosis-and-mycobacterial-pneumonia/

https://www.hellodoctor.co.za/the-differences-between-tb-and-pneumonia/