What is TB?

TB (Tuberculosis) is an infection caused by bacteria which mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any body part including glands, bones and the brain causing meningitis. It is spread when an infected person coughs and sneezes.

Some people may have latent TB, when the TB bacteria lives in your body without causing symptoms. People with latent TB cannot pass TB on to others. Treatment is available for people with Latent TB who are at high risk of developing active TB.

Active TB is when the bacteria are multiplying in your body making you ill and you could pass TB to others.

TB symptoms

The most common symptoms of TB include:

• • a cough lasting more than 3 weeks which may contain mucus with blood in it
  • a high temperature
  • drenching night sweats
  • loss of appetite
  • unexplained weight loss
  • feeling tired or exhausted

Symptoms of TB in other body parts will depend on the affected area and can vary from person to person.

Prevention and treatment for TB

The BCG vaccine is very effective at protecting babies and young children from developing severe TB disease.

The BCG vaccine is only recommended for people at higher risk of getting TB, such as some babies and children, some travellers and people at risk through their work.

More information about the BCG vaccine can be found on the NHS website.

TB is curable if diagnosed and treated early with a full course of specific antibiotics.

If the full course of specific antibiotics is not completed the TB may return in a form which is resistant to the usual drugs and be much harder to treat.