Tuberculosis

Prepared By: John V. Jiao, RMT, MD

 Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

 The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney,
spine, and brain.
 Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB
infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.
 TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air
when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe
in these bacteria and become infected.
 TB is NOT spread by:
o shaking someone’s hand
o sharing food or drink
o touching bed linens or toilet seats
o sharing toothbrushes
o kissing
 Symptoms of TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually
grow in the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as
o a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
o pain in the chest
o coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
 Other symptoms of TB disease are
o weakness or fatigue
o weight loss
o no appetite
o chills
o fever
o sweating at night
 Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.
 People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to
others.
 It is very important that people who have TB disease are treated, finish the medicine, and take the drugs
exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take
the drugs correctly, the TB bacteria that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is
resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.
 TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 9 months. Of the approved drugs, the first-line
anti-TB agents that form the core of treatment regimens are:
o isoniazid (INH)
o rifampin (RIF)
o ethambutol (EMB)
o pyrazinamide (PZA)

Reference: Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Tuberculosis