Diseases

Tuberculosis

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A highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis. Abbreviated tb.

SYMPTOMS

Pain areas: in the chest, pain circumstances: can occur while breathing, cough: can be chronic or with blood, whole body: fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, malaise, night sweats, or sweating, also common: loss of muscle, phlegm, severe unintentional weight loss, shortness of breath, or swollen lymph nodes

CAUSES

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings. Although tuberculosis is contagious, it's not easy to catch.