What Causes Tuberculosis?

Active TB

Active TB means that the tuberculosis bacteria in a person’s body has “woken up,” and they are now symptomatic and can pass the disease onto others. Active TB can take years to develop and can emerge from latent TB when the body can no longer suppress the bacteria. In the middle to late stages of tuberculosis, the patient develops a cough that lasts three weeks or longer. Sometimes they cough up blood or thick gray or yellow sputum. They have a low fever or chills, lose weight without trying and suffer from chronic fatigue. They have night sweats, chest pain, shortness of breath and urine that is sometimes reddish or cloudy.

Keep reading to reveal who is most at risk for contracting TB now.