Tuberculosis (TB) primarily affects the lungs. The bacterial infection is transmitted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can be spread through the air.

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Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that has been known for hundreds of years. It ‘consumes' the person from the inside leading to death. The bacteria can be spread through inhaling from the sneezes or coughs of an infected individual.

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Factors like alcoholism, malnutrition, and the presence of other infections that affect the immune system can raise risks of contracting tuberculosis. Babies and the elderly are two risk groups due to the weak immune system. Tuberculosis mostly affects the lungs but can also affect the bones, womb, brain, skin, uterus, and lymph nodes and can spread to other organs.

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The most common symptoms are a persistent cough, drops of blood in the coughed up sputum, fever for many weeks without a visible cause, and weight loss. With the right treatment, an infection can be cured. The most common treatment is a course of antibiotics. Many different antibiotics are necessary to prevent resistance of the bacteria to them. Patients with a drug-resistant infection have to undergo different courses of antibiotics.

Conditions

"Condition" is a general term for particular abnormal diseases that negatively affect a part or all of the body. Conditions are not due to any external injury. Therefore, a broken bone does not classify as a condition, whereas Herpes, OCD, Shingles, and Ulcers do.

Medical conditions are classified by specific symptoms and signs. While each person's experiences can vary, there are consistent signs and symptoms that doctors will look for when diagnosing their patients. We always recommend that people seek a professional diagnosis. Afterward, supplement medical advice and opinion with accurate and easy to read information.

Most people only spend an average of a couple minutes with their doctor during a checkup. Oftentimes patients don't receive the fullest explanation of their diagnosis. Easily search through the vast amount of articles that Facty Health offers for ones that address your specific needs. From there, allow us to help you with those unanswered questions.

Could You Have Tuberculosis? Ten Symptoms to Watch For

4. Chest Pain

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