What is active Tuberculosis (TB)?
The presence of TB bacteria in the body can lead to active TB disease if an infected person's immune system can't stop the bacteria from multiplying. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people that carry the bacteria may become sick later in life.

Symptoms of active TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing and may include:
* bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks
* pain in the chest
* coughing up blood or sputum
* weakness/fatigue
* weight loss
* no appetite
* chills, fever, night sweats
* usually have a positive skin test
* may have abnormal chest x-ray and/or positive sputum smear or culture

Show All Answers

1. What is a communicable disease?
2. Who is responsible for reporting a communicable disease?
3. What is Avian influenza?
4. What is seasonal influenza?
5. What is influenza (the flu)?
6. What is pandemic influenza?
7. What are the signs and symptoms of pandemic influenza?
8. How is pandemic influenza different from seasonal influenza?
9. How is pandemic influenza different from avian influenza?
10. How is pandemic influenza spread?
11. How can I protect myself and my family from getting sick during a pandemic?
12. How likely is it that we will see a pandemic flu in our lifetime?
13. How will we know when a new influenza virus is identified?
14. What are federal, state and local public health agencies doing to prepare for pandemic influenza?
15. What is Tuberculosis?
16. How is Tuberculosis (TB) spread?
17. What is latent Tuberculosis (TB) or (LTBI)?
18. What is active Tuberculosis (TB)?
19. Who is at risk for getting Tuberculosis (TB)?
20. How are people tested for Tuberculosis (TB)?