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Tuberculosis (TB)

• More information on tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (too-bur-kyuh-LOH-suhss), or TB, is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

The general symptoms of TB disease include:

• Feelings of sickness or weakness
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats

Other symptoms of TB depend on the parts of the body affected. With TB of the lungs, symptoms also can include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood.

If you have symptoms of TB or if you have been around someone who has TB disease, go to your doctor or health department for tests. TB can be treated and cured.

The TB rate in African-Americans is about 7 times higher than it is in whites. TB is generally more common in people who were born outside of the United States. Minority groups, including African-Americans, tend to have more TB risk factors than whites. TB risk factors include lower economic status and HIV infection.

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More information on tuberculosis (TB)

Explore other publications and websites

• Questions and Answers About TB — This booklet talks about how active and latent tuberculosis is spread, testing, vaccinations, and exposure to TB.
  http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/faqs/default.htm
• Stop TB in the African-American Community — Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious problem in the African-American community. This flier has information about TB and how to reduce its rate in African-Americans.
  http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/populations/TBinAfricanAmericans/default.htm
• Tuberculosis (Copyright © American Lung Association) — This publication discusses the difference between TB infection and TB disease, symptoms of TB, modes of transmission, testing, and innovative treatment options.
  http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/tuberculosis/
• Tuberculosis: Getting Healthy, Staying Healthy — This booklet explains tuberculosis and how it is spread, diagnosed, and treated.
  http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/tuberculosis/Understanding/Documents/TB.pdf

Connect with other organizations

• American Association for Respiratory Care
  http://www.aarc.org/
• American Lung Association
  http://www.lungusa.org/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS
  http://www.cdc.gov/
• National Prevention Information Network, CDC
  http://www.cdcnpin.org

Content last updated March 1, 2012.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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