Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a germ (bacteria). It's spread from person to person through the air. It most commonly infects the lungs. A person with pulmonary (lung) TB who coughs, speaks, or sings can spread the bacteria through the air. Uninfected people nearby can breathe in the TB bacteria and get infected.
While TB usually infects the lungs, it can infect almost any part of the body, such as the kidneys, bones, or the brain. TB that isn't treated can cause death. TB can be inactive (latent TB) or active (TB disease).
Inactive TB (latent TB infection)
If you have inactive TB:
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You’ve been exposed to TB. There are TB bacteria in your body, but you have no symptoms and are not sick. The only way to know if you have an inactive TB infection is to have a skin test or a blood test for TB.
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You are not infectious, meaning you can’t spread inactive TB to others.
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You may develop active TB disease if your immune system is weakened. Reasons this can happen include if you are older, are taking immune-suppressing medicines, or are living with HIV infection. People with latent TB who are at higher risk for active TB are treated with an antibiotic to prevent this from happening.
Active TB (TB disease)
If you have active TB:
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Symptoms may include a lasting cough, coughing up phlegm or even blood, extreme tiredness (fatigue), chest pain, sweating at night, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. These are very common symptoms of active TB of the lungs. TB of the lungs is the most common type of active TB.
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If you have pulmonary (lung) TB, you can spread the infection to others. Your family, friends, and people you work with closely should be tested. If you have active TB of another part of your body, ask your health care provider if you can infect others. Ask if those you've had close contact with should be tested.
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The most common site of TB outside of the lung is TB in the lymph nodes along your neck. This is called scrofula.
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Take all medicine until it’s done. TB disease can almost always be cured. But you may get sick again if you don’t take all your medicine, even if you feel better.
Who is at risk
Anyone who has ever had contact with a person with active TB (especially TB of the lungs) can get TB. Groups of people believed to be at high risk for TB include:
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People from countries with high rates of TB.
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Residents and employees of long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes and prisons).
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Those who are homeless or are in jail or prison.
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People who use illegal injected drugs.
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People who have HIV infection or other health risk factors (such as diabetes and end-stage renal disease).
Important:
If you think you’re at high risk of TB or have been exposed to someone with the disease, get tested. When you do get tested, ask your healthcare provider if your family members and friends should also get tested.
