Tuberculosis (TB) describes an very infectious disease. Tuberculosis (TB) is a life threatening bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs. Two organisms can cause tuberculosis an those are Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. It usually involves the lungs, but other organs of the body can also be involved. Tuberculosis is contagious and spreads through air borne droplets when an infected person with TB talks, coughs or sneezes. In general a prolong exposure to the infected person and a compromised immune system is needed to become infected yourself.
Coughing is often a common and only initial indication of tuberculosis. Other signs and symptoms of active tuberculosis includes –Severe cough which lasts for three weeks or longer which produce bloody or discolored sputum, night sweats, slight fever, chills, fatigue and weakness, pain in the chest, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss and pain with breathing or coughing. Tuberculosis can also spread outside your lungs and can target almost any part of the body like bones, joints, muscles, central nervous system, urinary tract, lymphatic system and bone marrow. Infection can spread in one organ like kidney or spine and can simultaneously attack many organ systems at a time. Depending on the organ involved tuberculosis symptoms shall vary.
