A Brief Overview of Tuberculosis
You may have heard of tuberculosis (TB) before, but do you know what it is? TB is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs, but it can also attack other parts of the body like the brain, spine, and kidneys. It's important to be informed about TB so you can protect yourself and others from getting sick. Read on to learn more about this disease. How is TB Spread? TB is spread through the air from person to person. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks, they release tiny droplets into the air that contain the TB bacteria. People nearby can then breathe in those droplets and become infected. It's important to note that only people who are sick with TB in their lungs are able to spread the disease. People with latent TB infection (LTI) - meaning they have the TB bacteria in their bodies but are not yet sick - cannot spread the disease. Symptoms of TB The symptoms of TB vary depending on which part of the body is affected. However, the most comm...