by Natasa Shepherd

Created on: May 20, 2010

The TB disease is transmitted through air, from one person to another. You can get in contact with these germs when a TB diseased person does anything that could get the air particles from their mouth into your body. So for instance, if a person sick with TB sings, coughs, sneezes, or even laughs near you and you breathe it in you could get infected.Sometimes when you get infected you might have only dormant (or sleeping) TB germs in your body. These will not make you sick or allow you to pass them onto someone else. There is a chance, however, that these germs might become active and multiply. If this happens you will get sick and progress from a dormant TB Infection to an active TB Disease.

TB, or Tuberculosis is a disease is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most often attacks the lungs, however, the TB bacteria can also attack any other parts of the body (these might often be the brain, spine and the kidneys). Tuberculosis can be treated, however if it is not treated properly it can result in a fatality.A skin test is performed in order to test an individual for TB.

Those infected with TB can have either the Latent TB Infection or the TB Disease. Both the Latent TB Infection and the TB disease should be treated as soon as possible since the active Tuberculosis could be fatal and the latent infection could become active.

Some people infected with the TB germs are more prone to getting the TB Disease. These include people which have an HIV infection, as well as many of those with other health problems, such as diabetes, that weaken your immune system. Those who abuse alcohol or certain illegal drugs are also at higher risk. People who have recently been infected with the TB (and have the virus dormant), as well as those who weren’t properly treated for their TB infection in the past.

While the treatment for TB is lengthy, at least six months, it is not as difficult as you might think. The doctor prescribes several medicines (pills most likely) which you will have to take as directed. Depending on your situation you might be ordered to wear a mask over your mouth to protect those around you. If a mask isn’t ordered those infected with TB (as well as anyone else!) should, as a common courtesy, cover their mouth when sneezing and coughing. It is important to take the medicine as directed, even if you feel well and are not seeing any of the symptoms of TB. It’s the only way to kill the germs and help protect yourself from getting infected again. 

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