Miliary Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacteria tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of the body, but they usually attack the lungs. Miliary tuberculosis is a form of TB where there is massive dissemination of bacilli throughout the body including the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Sympotoms are non-specific and include fever, weight loss, and weakness. Cough and shortness of breath are not prominent. The chest x-ray may show the characteristic diffuse, multiple, millet seed size nodules. Diagnosis may be made by bone marrow or lung biopsy.