What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB bacteria are released into the air when someone with infectious TB coughs or sneezes. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable.
| What are the signs of Tuberculosis? |
TB bacteria most commonly grow in the lungs, and can cause symptoms such as: A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest, and coughing up blood or sputum (mucus from deep inside the lungs).
| What is Active Tuberculosis? |
This is active form of tuberculosis and this condition makes you sick and can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later.
| What is Latent Tuberculosis? |
| In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB, isn’t contagious. It can turn into active TB, so treatment is important for the person with latent TB. |
What are the tests done to detect Tuberculosis?
| The Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) or the TB blood test can be used to test for M. tuberculosis infection. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid called tuberculin into the skin in the lower part of the arm. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease. |
