Tuberculosis, Lung Health and Respiratory Diseases

Mycobacterial Infections

Tuberculosis is a chronic inflammatory infectious disease which is caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections are asymptomatic, known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease, if left untreated, mostly kills about half of those infected. Symptoms of active TB are chronic cough with blood-containing sputum, night sweats, one weight loss and fever. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms including bones and joint pains, chest pain, neurological disorders and chronic pulmonary or respiratory distress etc