Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs, although other organs and tissues may be involved. Show
Key Points
How TB Affects Your BodyTB is caused by the bacterium M. tuberculosis. It spreads person to person when an infected individual coughs or sneezes out the bacteria, spreading it through the air to be breathed in by others. It takes prolonged exposure to become infected with TB, so you would typically get sick from a close family member or co-worker, not a casual acquaintance. Once you have inhaled the bacterium, the bacterium lodges in the lung tissue. Healthy individuals may contract latent TB, but the disease may not become active until months or years later, at a time when the immune system becomes weak for some reason. However, people with weakened immune systems are at a greater risk for developing active TB right away. When they breathe in the bacterium, it settles in their lungs and starts growing because their immune systems cannot fight the infection. In these instances, TB disease may develop within days or weeks after the infection. When a person gets active TB disease, it means TB bacteria are multiplying and attacking the lung(s) or other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, bones, kidney, brain, spine and even the skin. From the lungs, TB bacteria move through the blood or lymphatic system to different parts of the body. Who Is at Risk of TB?The chances of getting infected by the TB germ are highest for people that are in close contact with others who are infected. This includes:
Not everyone who is infected with the TB germ (latent TB) develops clinically active TB disease. People at the highest risk for developing active TB disease are those with a weak immune system, including:
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel. Page last updated: November 17, 2022 OverviewYour lungs are infected with tuberculosis bacteria when you have tuberculosis.What is tuberculosis?Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can cause infection in your lungs or other tissues. It commonly affects your lungs, but it can also affect other organs like your spine, brain or kidneys. The word “tuberculosis” comes from a Latin word for "nodule" or something that sticks out. Tuberculosis is also known as TB. Not everyone who becomes infected with TB gets sick, but if you do get sick you need to be treated. If you’re infected with the bacterium, but don’t have symptoms, you have inactive tuberculosis or latent tuberculosis infection (also called latent TB). It may seem like TB has gone away, but it’s dormant (sleeping) inside your body. If you’re infected, develop symptoms and are contagious, you have active tuberculosis or tuberculosis disease (TB disease). The three stages of TB are:
How common is tuberculosis?About 10 million people became ill with TB throughout the world, and about 1.5 million people died from the disease in 2020. TB was once the leading cause of death in the U.S. but the number of cases fell rapidly in the 1940s and 1950s after researchers found treatments. Statistics show that there were 7,860 tuberculosis cases reported in the U.S. in 2021. The national incidence rate is 2.4 cases per 100,000 people. Are there different kinds of tuberculosis?In addition to active or inactive, you might hear about different kinds of TB, including the most common, pulmonary (lung) tuberculosis. But the bacterium can also affect other parts of your body besides the lungs, causing extrapulmonary tuberculosis (or TB outside of the lung). You might also hear about systemic miliary tuberculosis, which can spread throughout your body and cause:
Symptoms and CausesWhat causes tuberculosis?TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The germs are spread through the air and usually infect the lungs, but can also infect other parts of the body. Although TB is infectious, it doesn’t spread easily. You usually have to spend a lot of time in contact with someone who is contagious in order to catch it. How is tuberculosis spread?TB can be spread when a person with active TB disease releases germs into the air through coughing, sneezing, talking, singing or even laughing. Only people with active pulmonary infection are contagious. Most people who breathe in TB bacteria are able to fight the bacteria and stop it from growing. The bacterium becomes inactive in these individuals, causing a latent TB infection. As many as 13 million people in the U.S. have latent TB. Although the bacteria are inactive, they still remain alive in the body and can become active later. Some people can have a latent TB infection for a lifetime, without it ever becoming active and developing into TB disease. However, TB can become active if your immune system becomes weakened and cannot stop the bacteria from growing. This is when the latent TB infection becomes active TB. Many researchers are working on treatments to stop this from happening. What are the signs and symptoms of tuberculosis?People with inactive TB do not exhibit symptoms. However, they may have a positive skin reaction test or blood test. Those with active TB can show any of the following symptoms:
Diagnosis and TestsWhat kinds of tests are used to diagnose tuberculosis?There are two kinds of screening tests for TB: the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) and the blood test, called the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA). For the TST, a healthcare provider will inject a small amount of a substance called purified protein derivative (PPD) under the skin of your forearm. After two to three days, you must go back to the healthcare provider, who will look at the injection site. For the IGRA, a healthcare provider will draw blood and send the sample to the lab. Further tests to determine if an infection is active or if your lungs are infected include:
How do I know if I should get tested for tuberculosis?You may want to get tested for TB if:
Others who are at risk for TB include:
The incidence rates for minority groups in the U.S. are higher than the incidence rates for whites. Management and TreatmentHow is tuberculosis treated?TB infection and disease is treated with these drugs:
You must take all of the medication your provider prescribes, or not all of the bacteria will be killed. You will have to take these medications for as long as you're told — sometimes up to nine months. Some forms of TB have become resistant to medications. It’s very important and likely that your provider will use more than one drug to treat TB. It’s very important to finish your entire prescription. Complications/side effects of treatmentSome people have side effects from the drugs used to treat TB that may include:
Talk to your provider about any side effects because some might mean that you're experiencing liver damage. How soon after starting treatment for active TB will I feel better?It will probably take weeks before you start having more energy and fewer days with symptoms. However, it will take longer than that to complete your treatment. You’ll need to take your medications for at least six to nine months. Can tuberculosis be cured?Yes, TB is curable. PreventionWhat can you do to prevent spreading tuberculosis?You usually have to be in contact with someone with active TB for a long time before becoming infected. It helps to follow infection prevention guidelines like:
In the hospital, the most important measures to stop the spread of TB are having proper ventilation and using the correct types of personal protective equipment. Is there a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis?Some countries (but not the U.S.) use a TB vaccine called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The vaccine is mostly given to children in countries with high rates of TB to prevent meningitis and a serious form of TB called miliary tuberculosis. The vaccine may make skin tests for TB less accurate. Outlook / PrognosisWhat is the outlook (prognosis) for someone with tuberculosis?If you have tuberculosis and you’re treated, your outlook is good if you’ve followed directions and taken your medications for as long as you should and in the way you were told. Living WithWhen should I see my healthcare provider?If you’ve been exposed to TB, you should talk to your healthcare provider right away. They can help you make a decision about getting tested. That decision is more important if you’ve developed any symptoms of illness that could mean you’re contagious. Remember, even though tuberculosis can be treated, it can also be fatal if it’s not treated. A note from Cleveland Clinic Tuberculosis is an infection that is spread through the air. Even though it can be treated, it’s still responsible for many deaths around the world. Make sure you contact your healthcare provider if you think you’ve been exposed or have symptoms of TB. Also, make sure to follow instructions if you’re treated for TB. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions. What is the most common site for Mycobacterium tuberculosis?The lung is the predominant site of TB. Primary pulmonary TB should be distinguished from postprimary pulmonary TB, which is the most frequent TB manifestation in adults (70%–80% cases). Cough is common, although the chest radiograph often raises suspicion of disease.
What part of the body is most affected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis?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 Mycobacterium tuberculosis live in the body?When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
What are the common site of human lung TB germ most likely reside Why?The bacteria multiply within the macrophages, and some may escape and spread through the lymph system and the bloodstream to other sites in the lungs as well as the brain, bone, and kidneys. The most common site of infection—and active tuberculosis—is the upper part of the lungs.
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