Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a disease that attacks the lungs, but it can spread to the brain and spine if left untreated. The bacteria that causes tuberculosis is called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it’s a contagious disease, it tends to be difficult to catch unless you spend a lot of time around someone who is already infected. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, or even just talks, tiny droplets with the bacteria are sent through the air. If you breathe in these droplets, you risk infection. The disease can’t last on surfaces, so you can’t get the disease by using the same door handle or shaking hands with an infected person.Tuberculosis comes in two types. Latent tuberculosis is one kind. This is where you have the disease, but it is inactive. You do not show symptoms, and it’s not contagious. Active tuberculosis is when the you become sick from the disease and experience symptoms. It’s possible to spread the bacteria when you have active tuberculosis. The following are a list of signs and symptoms you might experience with tuberculosis. If you think you have tuberculosis, it’s important for you to contact your doctor to be properly tested and receive adequate treatment.
