What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a serious infection. It mainly affects the lungs, but it can harm other parts of the body too. The disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of people get sick with TB each year. However, with early treatment, most people recover fully.
TB spreads from person to person through the air. When someone with active pulmonary tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, or speaks, tiny droplets with the bacteria can enter the air. If you breathe in these droplets, you might get infected. But not everyone who gets the bacteria will become sick right away. Some people have what is called “latent TB,” which means the bacteria are in the body but not causing symptoms.
Causes of Tuberculosis
The main cause of tuberculosis is the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. This germ spreads easily in crowded or poorly ventilated places. For example, you might catch TB if you spend a lot of time near someone who has active TB disease.
There are several ways TB can spread or become active:
Although TB mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary tuberculosis), it can also harm other organs like the kidneys, spine, or brain. This is called extrapulmonary TB.
Symptoms of Tuberculosis
Not everyone with TB bacteria feels sick. But when the disease becomes active, symptoms appear. Early signs can be mild and easy to miss. Still, knowing the symptoms of tuberculosis helps you seek care sooner.
Common tuberculosis symptoms include:
Sometimes, TB affects other parts of the body. For example, if TB is in the spine, you may have back pain. If it is in the kidneys, there may be blood in the urine. But most often, pulmonary tuberculosis causes the symptoms listed above.
If you notice symptoms of tuberculosis, consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. Early care can prevent serious health problems and stop the spread of TB to others.