
What is tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
What is the relationship between tuberculosis and HIV?
Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections. To the Editor: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is a necessary, but not sufficient, cause of tuberculosis (TB). Infection with HIV is the strongest known risk factor for disease progression to TB. In the absence of HIV infection, disease develops in 5% to 15% of infected persons.
Is tuberculosis (TB) curable?
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. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.
What is the TB epidemic and how can we end it?
Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 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.

What is TB classified as?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is 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.
Where does tuberculosis come from?
tuberculosis was originated in East Africa about 3 million years ago. A growing pool of evidence suggests that the current strains of M. tuberculosis is originated from a common ancestor around 20,000 – 15,000 years ago.
Can you kiss a TB patient?
Kissing, hugging, or shaking hands with a person who has TB doesn't spread the disease.
What happens if I test positive for TB?
A “positive” TB blood test result means you probably have TB germs in your body. Most people with a positive TB blood test have latent TB infection. To be sure, your doctor will examine you and do a chest x-ray. You may need other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or active TB disease.
What TB smells like?
Tuberculosis (TB) TB has an odour like stale beer. The smell is present in the breath, and changes as the disease progresses. The skin smells like “wet brown cardboard and brine”.
Is TB 100% curable?
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.
How long can you live with TB?
TB was diagnosed postmortem in 37.2% of the TB-related deaths and 21.3% of the non-TB-related deaths. Median survival for patients who died of TB and non-TB-related causes was 20 (range: 1–423) and 55 (range: 1–704) days, respectively (p < 0.001 by log-rank test). Kaplan-Meier survival curve of all TB patients.
How long does TB last?
Most people with TB disease will need to take TB medicine for at least 6 months to be cured.
Where is tuberculosis mostly found?
About half of all people with TB can be found in 8 countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and South Africa. About one-quarter of the world's population is estimated to be infected by TB bacteria. Only 5-15% of these people will fall ill with active TB disease.
Where is TB bacteria found?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an acute or chronic bacterial infection found most commonly in the lungs. The infection is spread like a cold, mainly through airborne droplets breathed into the air by a person infected with TB. The bacteria causes formation of small tissue masses called tubercles.
Who is most at risk for tuberculosis?
Groups at High Risk for Developing TB DiseasePersons who have had a gastrectomy or jejunoileal bypass.Persons with low body weight (<90% of ideal body weight)People who use substances (such as injection drug use)Populations defined locally as having an increased incidence of disease due to M.More items...
Is tuberculosis curable now?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable.