Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often attacks the lungs.

• How it spreads: TB mainly spreads through the air when a person with TB in the lungs coughs, sneezes, laughs, or speaks, releasing tiny droplets that others may breathe in.
• What makes it different from a common cold: TB usually develops slowly and the cough often lasts for weeks. Many people also feel tired, lose weight, or get night sweats.
• Not everyone who breathes in the bacteria becomes sick: Sometimes the bacteria stay “asleep” in the body (called latent TB). A person with latent TB does not spread TB, but it can become active later if immunity becomes weak.
• How doctors confirm it: Tests may include a sputum (mucus) test, a chest X-ray, or other lab tests to check for TB bacteria.
• Treatment: TB is curable, but it needs a full course of antibiotics for several months. Stopping medicines early can make the bacteria harder to kill (drug-resistant TB).
• Prevention: Good cough etiquette (covering mouth and nose), proper ventilation, avoiding close contact with infectious TB patients, and the BCG vaccine (given in childhood) help reduce risk—especially of severe TB in children.

TB matters because it spreads through everyday breathing spaces, but with early testing, complete treatment, and simple hygiene habits, it can be controlled effectively.