|
Overview
Tuberculosis (TB)
is an infectious disease caused by bacteria whose scientific name is Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. TB most commonly affects the lungs but also can involve most any
organ of the body. Many years ago,
this disease used to be called "Consumption" because without effective
treatment, these patients often would waste away. Today, of course, tuberculosis
usually can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
A person can become
infected with tuberculosis bacteria when he or she inhales minute particles of
infected sputum from the air. The bacteria get into the air when someone who has
a tuberculosis lung infection coughs, sneezes, shouts, or spits (which is common
in some cultures). People who are
nearby can then possibly breathe the bacteria into their lungs. You don't get
TB by just touching the clothes or shaking the hands of someone who is infected.
Tuberculosis is spread (transmitted) primarily from person to person during close
contact by breathing infected air. <<backS |