Tackling Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

A contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body.

Tuberculosis FAQ

What causes tuberculosis in the lungs?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.

What is active TB?

If you have TB and you have symptoms, it's called active TB. Sometimes you can have TB in your body but have no symptoms. This is called latent TB. you have a high temperature or night sweats that do not go away you keep losing weight without changing your diet or exercise routine

Is tuberculosis a bacterial infection?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that is also known as TB. It can be fatal if not treated. TB most often affects your lungs, but can also affect other organs like your brain. Your lungs are infected with tuberculosis bacteria when you have tuberculosis. What is tuberculosis?

How does tuberculosis affect the body?

The symptoms people get depend on where in the body TB becomes active. While TB usually affects the lungs, it also affects the kidneys, brain, spine and skin. Follow these steps to help prevent tuberculosis infection and spread:

What is tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis ( TB) is an infection caused by a bacterium belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes: TB is a notifiable disease in the UK. Suspected and confirmed diseases must be notified within 3 working days. For symptoms and general information on tuberculosis, visit NHS.UK.

What are the symptoms of tuberculosis (TB)?

Children may also have difficulty gaining weight or growing. If TB has spread to another part of your body such as your glands (lymph nodes), bones or brain, you may also have other symptoms, including: If you have TB and you have symptoms, it's called active TB. Sometimes you can have TB in your body but have no symptoms. This is called latent TB.

What is tuberculosis & how is it treated?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. This fact sheet provides basic information on the transmission, symptoms, testing, and treatment of TB.

What is active tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection with a germ (bacterium) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If you have symptoms, or a doctor can find signs of the infection when examining you, this is known as active tuberculosis. If you have TB infection without any signs or symptoms, this is known as latent TB. How common is tuberculosis?