Tuberculosis

Description

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most often affects the lungs, but it can involve other parts of the body as well. TB spreads through airborne droplets when someone with active TB talks, coughs, or sneezes; many people exposed to TB never become sick, while others carry latent TB infection. Signs of active TB can include a lasting cough for several weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. If you think you could have TB or have been exposed, see a healthcare professional for evaluation and testing.

Common Symptoms

1. A persistent cough lasting two weeks or longer
2. Coughing up blood or phlegm
3. Chest pain or shortness of breath
4. Unexplained weight loss
5. Loss of appetite
6. Fever
7. Night sweats
8. Fatigue or weakness
9. If you have these symptoms, consult a healthcare professional promptly

Causes

Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads through airborne droplets from an infected person.
Risk increases with close contact to someone with active TB, especially in households or crowded settings.
Weakened immune systems raise risk, including HIV infection, other immunosuppressive conditions, malnutrition, and diabetes.
Living or working in areas with high TB prevalence, crowded conditions, poor ventilation, or limited healthcare access also raises risk.
Additional factors include tobacco use, substance abuse, homelessness or incarceration, and extreme ages (young children or older adults).
If you’re worried about your risk or exposure, talk to a qualified healthcare professional for evaluation and testing.

Treatment Options

TB is treated with a prolonged, multi-drug antibiotic course rather than a single medication.

The standard first-line approach uses a combination of drugs (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide) in an initial intensive phase, followed by a continuation phase.

Adherence is critical; many programs use directly observed therapy (DOT) to help ensure medications are taken reliably.

Lifestyle support and infection control are part of care—adequate rest and nutrition, avoiding alcohol, good ventilation, and coughing precautions to prevent transmission.

Ongoing monitoring with tests and imaging helps assess response and safety; drug-resistant TB or HIV co-infection may require longer or different regimens.

Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical decisions.