Bacterial — Airborne
About Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs but can spread to any organ, and passes through the air when someone with active TB coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings.
Most people who are infected have latent TB — no symptoms and not contagious — but it can become active if the immune system weakens, for example with HIV. Drug-resistant forms of TB make early, accurate diagnosis important.
Symptoms
- Cough lasting 3 weeks or longer
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood or sputum
- Weakness or fatigue
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Fever, chills and night sweats
Test Options
- MTB — PCR detection of tuberculosis in sputum
- TB Interferon — blood screen — coming soon
A positive skin or blood screen is confirmed by PCR.