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What is TB?

What is TB?

Answer

“TB” is the abbreviation for an infection called Tuberculosis.  Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Not everyone with TB gets sick.  The bacteria can lay dormant and not cause symptoms.  This is called Latent TB Infection (LTBI).  Treatment at the latent stage decreases the chance of ever developing the disease.

If not treated at the latent stage, it can progress to TB disease.  This infection usually attacks the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, spine, brain and kidneys.  If not treated, active TB infection can be fatal. 

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