Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that mainly affects the lungs but may also affect many other parts of the body. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads by airborne droplets.
After infection, most people clear the bacteria, some develop active disease, and others develop latent TB (displaying no symptoms, but they may later develop active disease). Symptoms may take months or years to develop.
TB affecting the lungs (pulmonary TB) typically causes a persistent cough with sputum that may be bloody, chest pain, breathlessness, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. TB may spread to the lymph nodes, bones and joints, nervous system, and genitourinary tract.
TB is treated with a long-term course of a combination of antibiotics. Without treatment, TB can be fatal. The TB vaccine is usually only for certain at-risk groups and is rarely given in the US