Miliary tuberculosis

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Miliary tuberculosis
Classification & external resources

ICD-10	A19
ICD-9	018

Miliary tuberculosis (or miliary TB) is a form of tuberculosis that is characterized by a wide dissemination into the human body and by the tiny size of the lesions. Its name comes from a distinctive pattern seen on a chest X-ray of many tiny spots distributed throughout the lung fields with the appearance similar to millet seeds, thus the term "miliary" tuberculosis.

[edit] Treatment

See: Tuberculosis treatment

Miliary TB is always a serious condition; untreated miliary TB is almost always fatal. About 25% of patients with miliary TB also have tuberculous meningitis. The standard treatment recommended by the WHO is with isoniazid and rifampicin for six months, as well as ethambutol and pyrazinamide for the first two months. If there is evidence of meningitis, then treatment is extended to twelve months. The US guidelines recommend nine months' treatment.^{[citation needed]}