Tuberculosis
TB, or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, and was once the leading cause of death in the United
States. The bacteria
can attack any part of your body, but they usually attack the lungs.
TB is spread through the air from person to person. It is spread under
conditions that allow a person to inhale air containing many thousands of TB germs.
Usually, in
order for infection to occur, a healthy person is in very close contact with a
person with ACTIVE TB who is coughing or sneezing. Also, the contact usually occurs in an
enclosed space with little fresh air and over a long period of time. Even under these
conditions, people often do not become infected. A person who is sick with ACTIVE TB can
decrease the chance of spreading the disease by simply covering their mouth when they
cough. TB cannot be spread by touching tissues, eating utensils, or linens that have been
used by a person with ACTIVE disease - it can only be spread by breathing air containing
TB germs.
A person's body may kill
all the TB germs; however, if the TB germs remain alive but inactive in the body, this is
known as TB INFECTION.
People with INFECTION are not sick and cannot make others sick, yet they may become sick
in the future if they are not treated.
When the body is unable to keep the infection suppressed, the person may feel
sick and can infect others - especially close family and friends. This is called ACTIVE
TB. People with ACTIVE TB must receive treatment, or they will become very
sick and can
continue to infect others.
Can TB Be Cured? YES!
Both people with INFECTION and ACTIVE disease can be cured by taking medications.
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