Tuberculosis (TB) - Introduction

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Definition:

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria whose scientific name is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs, which is called pulmonary tuberculosis. Other parts of the body can also be affected, for example, lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, joints, meninges, the lining covering the outside of the gastrointestinal tract etc.

Tuberculosis (TB), a chronic bacterial infection, causes more deaths worldwide than any other infectious disease. TB is spread through the air and usually infects the lungs.

Tuberculosis is either latent (dormant) or active.

Latent TB means that you have the TB-causing bacteria in your body, but you cannot spread the disease to others.
Active TB means the infection is spreading in your body and you can spread the disease to others.

Tuberculosis mainly affects the -respiratory route and typically is a symptomatic. Symptomatic primary infection occurs particularly in children and people who are even mildly immunocompromised and in a small proportion of apparently otherwise normal individuals.

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