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Tuberculosis (TB) [En español]
An infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB bacteria are spread through the air when a person with active TB coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Breathing in the bacteria can lead to infection in the air sacs of the lungs. Symptoms of TB in the lungs include cough, tiredness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. Although the disease usually occurs in the lungs, it may also affect the larynx, lymph nodes, brain, kidneys, or bones. A person with both TB and HIV is more likely to develop tuberculosis disease than a person infected only with the TB bacterium, and TB is considered an AIDS-defining condition in people with HIV.
See Also: Tuberculin Skin Test
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