Untreated disease can be fatal. Tuberculosis may be suspected on the basis of a chest X-ray picture or a positive skin test that indicates exposure to the bacteria. Sputum examination for presence of the organism is very strong evidence of disease. However, definitive diagnosis requires bacteriologic studies with isolation of the specific mycobacteria. Physicians ultimately diagnose disease based upon clinical symptoms in association with x-ray pictures and positive bacteriologic tests.
Tuberculosis is a treatable and curable disease.
However, drug treatment requires that a number of antibiotics be taken for a prolonged period of time, usually six to nine months. Some cases of tuberculosis are caused by mycobacteria that are resistant to the commonly used anti-tuberculous drugs. Such resistant bacteria frequently arise as a result of incomplete or intermittent treatment. These cases are complicated by the need for multiple drugs for even more prolonged periods of time. Tuberculosis due to resistant mycobacteria can be incurable and fatal.