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Tuberculosis or TB is a contagious infection that usually attacks your lungs.
It can spread to other parts of your body, like your brain and spine.
A type of bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it.
A TB infection doesn’t mean you’ll get sick.
There are two forms of TB: latent TB and active TB.
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Latent TB:
• Latent TB infection (LTBI)
• Tubercle bacilli in the body
• Usually positive mantoux
• Not infectious
• No symptoms
• Normal chest X-ray
• Sputum smears and cultures negative
• Not a “case” of TB
• Gene expert negative.
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Active TB:
This means the germs multiply and can make you sick.
You can spread the disease to others.
Ninety per cent of adult cases of active TB are from the reactivation of a latent TB infection.
• Active TB disease
• Tubercle bacilli in the body
• Usually positive skin test
• Infectious
• Symptoms of TB
• Chest X-ray usually abnormal
• Sputum smears and cultures usually positive
• An active “case” of TB
• Gene expert positive (Pos) and/or sputum culture positive
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