Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that can attack any part of your body. It usually affects the lungs, but can affect lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, joints, and other parts of the body. Tuberculosis is spread person to person through air. When an infected person who is not taking tuberculosis medication coughs or sneezes, the bacteria get into the air. Prolonged exposure is normally necessary for infection to occur.
Tuberculosis can affect anyone.
People infected with the HIV virus, AIDS patients, persons with weakened immune systems, and the elderly are at increased risk. Symptoms include fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and a persistent cough. Some people who are infected may not have symptoms. Most people infected with TB never develop active disease. If active TB does develop, it usually occurs two to three months after infection, but can surface years later.