Oct 29, 2024 · Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit. Tuberculosis is preventable and curable. About a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria.

Jan 17, 2025 · If you have inactive TB, treating it is the best way to prevent active TB disease. Without treatment, people with inactive TB can develop active TB disease. People with weakened immune systems are at very high risk of developing active TB disease once infected with TB germs. It is very important that these people receive treatment for inactive ...

Jan 17, 2025 · Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium (or germ) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the United States, the majority of TB disease cases in people are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other mycobacteria (such as Mycobacterium bovis) can also cause TB disease in people. TB usually affects the lungs.

The tuberculosis (TB) blood test and the TB skin test are the two types of tests for TB infection. Treatment Both inactive tuberculosis (TB) and active TB disease can be treated.

Jan 31, 2025 · Drug-resistant TB disease is transmitted in the same way as drug-susceptible TB disease, and it is as infectious as drug-susceptible TB disease. However, delay in the recognition of drug resistance or prolonged periods of infectiousness may facilitate increased transmission and further development of drug resistance.

Jan 6, 2025 · Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). M. tuberculosis and seven very closely related mycobacterial species (M. bovis, M. africanum, M. microti, M. caprae, M. pinnipedii, M. canetti, and M. mungi) comprise what is known as the M. tuberculosis complex. Most—but not all ...

Oct 30, 2024 · Symptoms of active TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected: TB disease of the lymph nodes may cause a firm red or purple swelling under the skin. TB disease of the kidney may cause blood in the urine. TB meningitis (TB disease of the brain) may cause headache or confusion. TB disease of the spine may cause back pain.

Jan 22, 2025 · Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s top infectious killer. Nearly 4500 people lose their lives and 30 000 people fall ill with TB each day. TB is contagious and airborne. It is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel TB …

Jan 18, 2018 · When a person develops active TB (disease), the symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss etc.) may be mild for many months. This can lead to delays in seeking care, and results in transmission of the bacteria to others. People ill with TB can infect up to 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year.

Most people with TB disease have TB disease of the lungs. Your health care provider may use a chest x-ray to look for signs of TB disease in your lungs. Laboratory tests. Your health care provider may collect samples from you. A common sample is a sputum (phlegm) specimen to test for TB of the lungs.