What is the difference between TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI)?
People with TB disease are sick from bacteria that are active in their body. They usually have one or more of the symptoms of TB, and are often able to give the infection to others. When people have the bacteria in their body, but are not sick because the germs are inactive, they have what is called “Latent TB.” These people do not have any obvious symptoms and cannot spread the infection to others. However, people with latent TB may develop active TB disease in the future.
