What is active TB disease?
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can’t stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems.
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can’t stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick years later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions: • substance abuse • diabetes mellitus • silicosis • cancer of the head or neck • leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease • severe kidney disease • low body weight • certain medical treatments (such as corticosteroid treatment or organ transplants) • s
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can’t stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions: Substance abuse Diabetes mellitus Silicosis Cancer of the head or neck Leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease Severe kidney disease Low body weight Certain medical treatments (such as corticosteroid treatment or organ transplants) Specialized treatment for rheumatoid ar
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can’t stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions: • substance abuse • diabetes mellitus • silicosis • cancer of the head or neck • leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease • severe kidney disease • low body weight • certain medical treatments (such as corticosteroid treatment or organ transplants) • specialized treatment
• TB bacteria become active if the immune system cannot stop them from multiplying and the bacteria can cause active TB disease. People with active TB disease can spread the disease to others. Those with active TB will often exhibit symptoms such as heavy coughing, fatigue, chills, and fever. Some people develop TB disease soon after becoming infected with the bacilli, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people might get sick later, when their immune systems become weak for some reason. Most people infected with TB do not develop active TB disease and instead have what is called latent TB.
