Ganglionic tuberculosis: what it is, symptoms and treatment

Ganglionic tuberculosis is characterized by the infection of the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis , popularly known as Koch's bacillus, in the ganglia of the neck, chest, armpits or groin, and less frequently in the abdomen region.

This type of tuberculosis is more common in patients with HIV and in women aged between 20 and 40 years, in contrast to the pulmonary form that is more frequent in older men.

Together with pleural tuberculosis, this is the most common type of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, and it is curable when the treatment is carried out using antibiotics prescribed by the pulmonologist.

Main symptoms

The symptoms of ganglionic tuberculosis are nonspecific, such as low fever and weight loss, which can prevent the person from seeking medical help immediately. Other common symptoms are:

• Swollen tongues on the neck, neck, armpits or groin, usually 3 cm but which can reach 8-10 cm in diameter; Absence of pain in the tongues; Hard and difficult to move tongues; Decreased appetite; Excessive night sweating may occur; Fever low, up to 38º C, especially at the end of the day; Excessive tiredness.

In the presence of these symptoms, it is important to seek guidance from a pulmonologist or general practitioner so that the diagnosis is made and antibiotic treatment can be started.

Symptoms can vary from the affected ganglia, as well as the state of the person's immune system.

How diagnosis is made

The diagnosis of tuberculosis can be difficult, as the disease causes symptoms that may be caused by a simple flu or any other type of infection.

Thus, after evaluating the symptoms, the doctor may order an X-ray, which shows that the lungs are not affected, and a microbiological examination to check for the presence of bacteria, for this the sore and swollen ganglion must be aspirated with a fine needle and the material sent to the laboratory.

In addition, other tests may be ordered to aid the diagnosis, such as blood count and PCR measurement. The average time from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis varies from 1 to 2 months, but can reach 9 months.

How to get ganglion tuberculosis

In cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, as with ganglion tuberculosis, Koch's bacillus normally enters the body through the airways, but it does not lodge in the lungs, but in other parts of the body, characterizing different types of tuberculosis:

• Ganglionic tuberculosis, is the most common type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and is characterized by the involvement of the ganglia. Miliary tuberculosis, which is the most serious type of tuberculosis and occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis reaches the bloodstream and can go to different organs, including the lung, causing various complications; Bone tuberculosis, in which the bacteria lodges in the bones causing pain and inflammation that hinders movement and favors the leg of localized bone mass. Understand more about bone tuberculosis.

The bacteria can remain in the inactive organism for a long time until some situation, such as stress, for example, which leads to a decrease in the immune system, favors its proliferation and, consequently, the manifestation of the disease.

Thus, the best way to avoid ganglionic tuberculosis is to avoid being in environments where other people with pulmonary tuberculosis may be, especially if treatment has been started less than 15 days before.

How to treat ganglion tuberculosis

Treatment for ganglionic tuberculosis is carried out according to the guidance of a pulmonologist, infectious disease or general practitioner and the use of antibiotics is usually indicated for at least 6 months, and in some cases surgery to remove the inflamed ganglion may be recommended.

The antibiotics normally indicated are Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide and Etambutol and the treatment must be done according to the specific instructions of the doctor, and should not be interrupted, as it can cause bacterial resistance, which can complicate the condition, since the antibiotics that before they worked, they no longer act on bacteria, making it difficult to fight infection.