Tuberculosis is an infection caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually affects the lungs, but can involve the kidneys, bones, spine, brain and other parts of the body.
Tuberculosis is commonly referred to as TB.
Tuberculosis is usually spread by breathing in the bacteria after someone who has untreated TB disease in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes.
You would usually need to have very close day-to-day contact with someone who has the active TB disease to breathe in the bacteria.
Tuberculosis can attack any part of the body, but the lungs are the most common site.
Symptoms of TB diseases involving the lungs include:
Some people have no symptoms of TB infection.
TB can cause damage to your lungs or other organs and can cause very serious illness such as miliary (affecting the whole body) TB and meningeal (brain)
The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) is a live vaccine against tuberculosis. It is only recommended in certain situations.
For detailed information about tuberculosis vaccination, speak to a health professional.
