What is tuberculosis?
A person with tuberculosis has a bacterial infection of the lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although tuberculosis can infect other organs in the body, pneumonia is the most common infection caused by tuberculosis. In the US, tuberculosis occurs most commonly in those with illnesses that result in a weak immune system, such as AIDS. There are about 8 million new cases of active tuberculosis worldwide each year. Only about 20,000 cases occur in the US.

What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
Symptoms of tuberculosis include coughing, coughing blood, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and lymph gland swelling.

How does the doctor treat tuberculosis?
Treatment for tuberculosis includes antibiotics, and acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for fever. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the infected portion of a lung. Members of the household require treatment with antibiotics, in order to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.