CAUSES

Tuberculosis is caused by an organism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (picture on the left). The bacteria spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings. Although tuberculosis is contagious, it's not especially easy to catch. You're much likely to get tuberculosis from a family member or close co-worker than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.

When a person becomes infected with tuberculosis, the bacteria in the lungs multiply and cause pneumonia along with chest pain, coughing up blood, and a prolonged cough. In addition, lymph nodes near the heart and lungs become enlarged. As the TB tries to spread to other parts of the body, it is often interrupted by the body's immune system is unable to fight TB or if the bacteria break through the scar tissue, the disease returns to an active state with pneumonia and damage to kidneys, bones and the meninges that line the spinal cord and brain.

This picture shows the damage pnuemonia can cause.

Due to tuberculosis, pneumonia occurs. Lungs are inflammed and this causes breathing difficulties. More complications caused by tuberculosis will be covered in the following post, POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS.

Here is a song on Tuberculosis we found on Youtube.

Tips and Precautions to avoid Tuberculosis...

-Avoid people who you know are sick or have the flu. You would not know if they have the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.

-Get vaccinated.

-DO NOT share items such as utensils, towels etc.