CNN —
Here’s a look at Tuberculosis (also known as TB), an infection, caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that usually affects the lungs. It can also infect other parts of the body including the kidneys, spine and brain.
About TB
Two types of TB exist - Latent TB infection (non-infectious) and TB disease (infectious).
Latent TB infection:
- A person infected with latent TB shows no symptoms and may not feel sick.
- A skin or blood test will indicate if a person has been infected with the bacteria.
- It is not possible to spread TB bacteria from the infected person to others.
- Individuals with a latent TB infection may never develop the disease, as bacteria remains dormant. In other cases, especially involving people with a weak immune system, the bacter