Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infection caused by bacteria that spreads through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. It most commonly affects the lungs, though it can damage other parts of the body. TB is treatable with medication, but it requires a specific course of drugs taken over several months. Understanding how TB spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how treatment works helps you recognize the disease and know what to expect if you or someone close to you is diagnosed.
The articles here cover what happens during TB testing and diagnosis, how doctors determine which type of TB someone has, what the treatment process involves, and how to manage side effects from medications. You'll also learn about latent TB infection—when someone carries the bacteria but isn't sick—and when treatment may be recommended to prevent the disease from developing later.