Pathophysiology of Tuberculosis

Pathophysiology of Tuberculosis

In humans, symptoms of active TB often include coughing, fever, nightly sweats and wasting of the body. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect the brain, the kidneys or the skeleton. The symptoms of TB of the lungs include persistent coughing, chest pain and coughing up blood. Symptoms involving other areas of the body vary, depending on the affected organ.

Tuberculosis is spread from person to person through the air, in tiny microscopic droplets. When a person with TB in the lungs coughs or sneezes, the bacteria can be inhaled by persons nearby, often family members or co-workers.