Tuberculosis

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Tuberculosis

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs but can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. When a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs, laughs, sneezes, sings, or talks, the germs that cause TB may spread through the air. If another person breathes in these germs, there is a chance that he/she will become infected with TB.. Usually a person has to be close to someone with TB disease for a long period of time to become infected. If it is not treated, TB can be fatal, but it can almost always be treated and cured with the proper medications.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 billion people, equal to one-third of the world’s population, are infected with TB bacteria. 1 in 10 people infected with TB will become sick with active TB in their lifetime. 1.8 million people died from TB in 2008. TB is a disease of poverty affecting mostly young adults in their most productive years. The vast majority of TB deaths are in the developing world, and more than half of all deaths occur in Asia.

Below, we have provided information on tuberculosis, including clinical guidance, policies and directives, training material, and other resources, to assist healthcare providers and Service members and their families.

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