Tuberculosis (TB): Causes, Symptoms, Tests and Treatment
TB full form: Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, or TB, is a serious but curable infection. This guide explains in simple language what causes TB, its symptoms, how it’s tested, the BCG vaccine and why completing treatment matters.
Have a question about TB? Ask ANYA on WhatsApp, privately and in your own language, any time.
What Causes Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB in the lungs coughs, sneezes or talks.
TB does not spread through handshakes, sharing food or touching surfaces.
People with weakened immunity, such as those with HIV, diabetes or malnutrition, are at higher risk.
Types of TB
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Latent TB | Bacteria are inactive. There are no symptoms and it isn’t contagious, but it can become active later. |
| Active TB | Bacteria are multiplying and cause symptoms. It can spread if it’s in the lungs. |
| Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) | TB of the lungs, the most common type. It is also called lung tuberculosis. |
| Extrapulmonary TB | TB outside the lungs, such as in the lymph nodes, spine or abdomen |
| Miliary / disseminated TB | A serious form in which TB spreads through the blood to many organs |
Symptoms of Pulmonary TB
Common symptoms of PTB include:
- A cough lasting two weeks or more
- Coughing up phlegm or blood
- Fever, especially in the evening
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Tiredness and chest pain
Testing advice: If you have a cough for two weeks or more, get tested for TB.
TB Tests
A doctor may advise:
- Sputum test: checks phlegm for TB bacteria
- Chest X-ray: looks for signs of TB in the lungs
- TST skin test (tuberculin skin test): a small amount of fluid is injected under the skin of the forearm, and the reaction is checked after 2–3 days. It is also called the Mantoux test.
- Blood tests (IGRA): another way to check for TB infection
A positive TB skin test shows TB infection, but it doesn’t confirm active disease. Your doctor will advise further tests. A previous BCG vaccination can sometimes affect the skin test result.
BCG Vaccine
BCG vaccine full form: Bacille Calmette-Guérin. The BCG vaccine is given to babies in India as part of the national immunisation programme. It mainly protects young children against severe forms of TB, such as TB meningitis and miliary TB.
TB Treatment
Tuberculosis treatment involves taking a combination of medicines for several months, exactly as prescribed.
Why completing treatment matters: stopping early can make TB come back and lead to drug-resistant TB, which is harder to treat.
In India, TB diagnosis and treatment are available free at government health facilities under the National TB Elimination Programme.
World TB Day
World TB Day is observed every year on 24 March to raise awareness about tuberculosis and efforts to end it.
How ANYA Helps
ANYA, Lupin’s free AI health assistant, answers your TB questions 24/7 on WhatsApp, privately and without judgement.
Try asking: “How does TB spread?” or “What is the TB skin test?”
ANYA provides health information, not diagnosis or treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full form of TB is tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which spread through the air when a person with active lung TB coughs or sneezes.
A cough lasting two weeks or more, fever, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness.
The tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) checks for TB infection by injecting a small amount of fluid under the skin and checking the reaction after 2–3 days.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin. The BCG vaccine mainly protects young children against severe forms of TB.
A serious form of TB that spreads through the bloodstream to many organs. It needs urgent medical care.
Yes. TB is curable when the full course of prescribed medicines is completed. Stopping early can lead to drug-resistant TB.
World TB Day is observed every year on 24 March.
