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Latent Tuberculosis InfectionAudio (En español)

When a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the immune system prevents the bacteria from growing. Because the bacteria are inactive, the person does not feel sick and does not have any symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). A person with latent TB infection cannot spread TB to others. Without treatment, latent TB infection can advance to TB disease, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

See Related Term(s):  Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis Disease