adult tuberculosis

sec·on·dar·y tu·ber·cu·lo·sis

tuberculosis found in adults and characterized by lesions near the apex of an upper lobe, which may cavitate or heal with scarring without spreading to lymph nodes; theoretically, secondary tuberculosis may be due to exogenous reinfection or to reactivation of a dormant endogenous infection. Synonym(s): adult tuberculosis, postprimary tuberculosis, reactivation tuberculosis, reinfection tuberculosis

adult tuberculosis

A nonspecific term for tuberculosis which occurs in an adult; it can be primary or secondary (reactivation/reinfection), occur in a young relatively healthy adult or in an older person who is immune compromised and has multiple underlying diseases.