Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly involves the lungs, but may spread to other organs.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). You can get tuberculosis by breathing in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person.

Most people will recover from primary TB infection without further evidence of the disease. The infection may stay asleep or nonactive (dormant) for years and then reactivate.

Most people who develop symptoms of a TB infection first became infected in the past. However, in some cases, the disease may become active within weeks after the primary infection.

The following people are at higher risk for active TB: Elderly, Infants, People with weakened immune systems, for example due to AIDS, chemotherapy, or antirejection medicines given after an organ transplant.

The risk of contracting TB increases if you: Are in frequent contact with people who have the disease, Have poor nutrition, Live in crowded or unsanitary living conditions.

The following factors may increase the rate of TB infection in a population: Increase in HIV infections, Increase in number of homeless people (poor environment and nutrition), The appearance of drug-resistant strains of TB.

The primary stage of the disease usually doesn't have symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include: Cough (sometimes producing phlegm), Coughing up blood, Excessive sweating, especially at night, Fatigue, Fever, and Unintentional weight loss.

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease are breathing difficulty, chest pain, and wheezing.


[External Links]
Complete information from umm.edu
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More information from eMedicine