What is TB?

A bacterial infection called tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects the lungs but can also affect other body regions. It is brought on by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. The bacteria from an infected individual can spread from one person to another person when they cough, sneeze, or talk and are breathed by another person.

TB can be either latent or active. Latent TB means that a person is infected with the bacteria but does not have any symptoms and is not contagious. Active TB, however, means that the person has signs and can spread the infection to others.

The symptoms of active TB include a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, chest pain, blood in the cough, a fever, night sweats, and weight loss. TB can be treated with a combination of antibiotics, but it is essential to complete the full course of treatment to ensure the infection is fully cured.

TB is a severe and potentially deadly disease, but it can be prevented and controlled through vaccination, early detection and treatment, and efforts to reduce the transmission of the bacteria. According to the (WHO), TB is one of the major causes of death globally and is particularly common in impoverished nations.

The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for TB. The bacteria are airborne and typically affect the lungs, though they can also affect other body areas. TB is contagious, although it doesn’t spread quickly. To contract it, you typically need to be near an infectious person for an extended period.