Pulmonary tuberculosis: Learn about pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)

Learn about pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), a contagious bacterial infection that affects the lungs. Find out how it is transmitted, diagnosed, treated, and prevented, and what complications it can cause. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a form of tuberculosis that affects the lungs. It can cause a variety of respiratory symptoms and, if left untreated, can be fatal. TB is transmitted through airborne particles released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Although it primarily affects the lungs, TB can also affect other organs, a condition known as extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s top infectious killer. Nearly 4500 people lose their lives and 30 000 people fall ill with TB each day. TB is contagious and airborne. It is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.About one-quarter of the world's ... Read chapter 9-14 of Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2025 online now, exclusively on AccessMedicine. AccessMedicine is a subscription-based resource from McGraw Hill that features trusted medical content from the best minds in medicine.