Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most commonly affects the lungs.
Detailed description
Tuberculosis is transmitted through the air when people with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis release infectious droplets. After infection, only a fraction of those exposed develop tuberculosis. People with weakened immune systems, such as those with untreated HIV, are at particularly high risk of developing the disease. Tuberculosis is found worldwide, but occurs much more frequently in certain regions. The disease can be treated with antibiotics and is curable in many cases. However, resistance to key tuberculosis medications can significantly complicate and prolong treatment, particularly in case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
