21/12/2025
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs, though it can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.
TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, releasing microscopic droplets that others can inhale. Common symptoms include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. While TB can be life-threatening, it is both preventable and curable with proper medical treatment.
Diagnosis typically involves a skin test, blood test, chest X-ray, or sputum culture. Treatment requires a combination of antibiotics taken for six months or longer. Prompt diagnosis, medication adherence, and public health measures are crucial to controlling and ultimately eradicating tuberculosis worldwide.
