Mycobacterium tuberculosis Jacob Kennedy

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease

Types of Tuberculosis and its symptoms  Latent TB: hard to tell if you have the infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Not contagious, but can turn active. About 1/3 of the world’s population has Latent TB.  Active TB: Makes you sick and contagious. It can occur in the first few weeks after you the get the infection or it might occur years later. Signs and symptoms of active TB include: CoughUnintentional weight loss FatigueFever Night sweatsChills Loss of appetite

Facts Tuberculosis usually attacks your lungs. Signs TB of the lungs include: Coughing that lasts three or more weeks. Coughing up blood or sputum. Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing. Tuberculosis can affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside of your lungs, symptoms vary. For example, tuberculosis of the spine may give you back pain, and TB in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.

Treatments  They depend on with type of TB you have, although a long course of antibiotics is most often used.  Hospital admission during treatment, for most people, is not necessary.  You may be referred to a specialist TB treatment team.