Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. When an uninfected person breathes in the droplets containing the bacteria, the bacteria can enter the lungs and begin to multiply, causing an infection.
The symptoms of TB can vary depending on which organs are affected by the infection. Common symptoms include a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks, chest pains, coughing up blood, fatigue, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, and weight loss. If left untreated, TB can cause serious and even life-threatening complications, such as damage to the lungs, kidney failure, and meningitis.
When TB infects a person, it is often spread through close contact with an infected person such as family, friends, or co-workers. People who have weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV, are more likely to become infected with TB. People who have had close contact with an infected person, such as health care workers, are also at an increased risk of infection.
TB is a preventable and treatable disease. Vaccination can help protect against TB, and regular testing for TB can help identify and treat the disease before it progresses and causes serious health complications. Treatment usually involves taking a combination of antibiotics for several months. With the right treatment, most people with TB can make a full recovery.
