You get tuberculosis (TB) by breathing in Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria from the air, released by someone with active TB in their lungs or throat when they cough, sneeze, sing, or speak, requiring close, prolonged contact, not casual contact or touching surfaces. The germs then can settle in the lungs or travel to other body parts, potentially causing a latent infection (inactive) or developing into active TB disease if the immune system can't control them.
The germs that cause tuberculosis are a type of bacteria. Tuberculosis can spread when a person with the illness coughs, sneezes or sings. This can put tiny droplets with the germs into the air. Another person can then breathe in the droplets, and the germs enter the lungs.
Common symptoms include:
Most people who have TB disease can be cured with a course of 4 antimicrobials lasting 6 months, or even 4 months in some cases. Information, supervision and patient support by a health worker or trained volunteer are key to a successful outcome.
TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and it most often affects the lungs. TB is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit.
Genital tuberculosis is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect both men and women. It is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Genital TB can be passed from person to person through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner.
Part 1 – Phthisis, consumption and the White Plague. In that time it also became known as the great white plague and the white death [4, 5, 24], called “white” because of the extreme anaemic pallor of those affected [4, 25].
No. It is very important to remember that only someone with active TB disease in the lungs can spread the germ. People with TB infection are not contagious, do not have any symptoms, and do not put their family, friends and co-workers at risk. (diabetes, cancer, etc.)
However, at the end of TB treatment, the lungs rarely fully recover immediately. Structural damage and functional impairment may persist for many months, years or even the rest of a person's life – and additional structural, infectious and/or psychological complications can occur.
The germs spread from person to person through the air. People who have TB disease in their throat or lungs spread the germs in the air when they cough, sneeze, talk, or sing. If you breathe in the air that has the germs, you can get TB. TB is not spread by touching, kissing, or sharing food or dishes.
Tuberculosis occurs in stages: Primary infection. Latent (inactive) infection. Active disease.
A positive test result for TB infection means you have TB germs in your body. If you test positive for TB infection, your health care provider will do other tests to determine if you have inactive TB (also called latent TB infection) or active TB disease.
TB is often known as “a disease of the poor” because the burden of TB follows a strong socioeconomic gradient both between and within countries, and also within the poorest communities of countries with high TB incidence [2].
Symptoms
The most common site of infection—and active tuberculosis—is the upper part of the lungs. As they spread, the tuberculosis bacteria will usually provoke a further, more powerful infection-fighting response that physically contains the bacteria in hard, immune-cell clusters called granulomas.
The lungs are most commonly affected. This is known as pulmonary tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculosis. If other organs are affected, it is called extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This is more common in children or people with a weakened immune system.
Your lungs are infected with tuberculosis bacteria when you have tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is an illness caused by a bacterial infection. It commonly affects your lungs, but it can also affect other areas of your body like your spine, brain or kidneys.
The exact length of time will depend on your overall health and the severity of your TB. After taking the medicine for 2 weeks, most people are no longer infectious and feel better. However, it is important to continue taking your medicine exactly as prescribed and to complete the whole course of antibiotics.
TB patients should avoid alcohol and smoking, as these can harm the lungs and immune system. A balanced lifestyle supports the body's recovery and makes it easier to handle the side effects of TB medication. These small daily habits can contribute greatly to a patient's recovery journey.
BCG, or bacille Calmette-Guérin, is a vaccine for TB disease. Many persons born outside the United States have been BCG-vaccinated. The primary benefit of BCG is its effectiveness in preventing children from contracting severe disseminated TB or TB meningitis.
If you have untreated TB disease that can spread from person to person (TB disease in the lungs or throat), your health care provider may ask you to stay in home isolation. Home isolation means you avoid contact with other people. Home isolation will help stop the spread to others.
In the 1700s, people referred to TB disease as "the white plague" due to the pale complexion of people with TB disease. In the 1800s, people called TB disease "consumption." In 1834, Johann Schonlein named the disease "tuberculosis."
“When people think of deadly diseases, they think of COVID-19, malaria, HIV and diarrheal diseases,” Barron said. “Many are surprised to find that TB kills the highest number of people in the world.”
Active TB Treatment
If you have an active TB disease you can be treated with medication. Treatment time can take four to nine months depending on the treatment plan. Combinations of medications may include Ethambutol, Isoniazid, Moxifloxacin, Rifampin, Rifapentine and Pyrazinamide.