Tuberculosis (TB): Understanding the Disease

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.

TB is transmitted through the air when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing bacteria-containing droplets into the air.

TB can manifest in two forms:

Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

In this form, individuals are infected with TB bacteria but do not have symptoms and are not contagious. However, they may develop active TB disease if the bacteria become active in their bodies.

This occurs when the TB bacteria become active and multiply in the body, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Active TB disease can be contagious and spread to others.

Active TB Disease