Understanding Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that attacks your lungs first but can spread throughout your body. The culprit behind TB is a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk.
When TB becomes active in your body, it creates a range of serious symptoms. You might experience persistent coughing (lasting weeks), coughing up blood, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. Your body will feel the strain through fatigue, weight loss, and chills as it fights the infection.
If TB goes untreated, it doesn't stay in your lungs. The infection can travel to your kidneys (causing blood in urine), spine (creating back pain), or even your brain. More rare but potentially fatal complications include heart inflammation (cardiac tamponade) and meningitis.
Health Alert: TB isn't just a lung disease! If you notice unexplained weight loss, night sweats, and a cough that won't go away after three weeks, see a doctor immediately—these are classic TB warning signs.