tuberculosis (tb) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. the bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
the symptoms of tb include a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and produces phlegm, weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. when tb occurs outside the lungs, symptoms vary according to the organs involved.
not everyone infected with tb bacteria becomes sick. as a result, two tb-related conditions exist: latent tb infection (ltbi) and tb disease. people with ltbi do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread tb, but they may develop tb disease if they do not receive treatment.
diagnosis of tb involves a skin or blood test. if tb is suspected, a chest x-ray and a sputum test may also be done.
treatment for tb typically requires a long course of antibiotics, usually for six to nine months. it's crucial for people with tb to finish the medicine, taking the drugs exactly as prescribed.
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