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Multiple variants may be present simultaneously. Tuberculosis of the lip, secondary to open pulmonary TB. There is a popular misconception that tuberculosis is purely a disease of the lungs that manifests as coughing. [47] Tuberculosis may infect many organs, even though it most commonly occurs in the lungs (known as pulmonary tuberculosis). [8]
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), also known as Koch's bacillus, is a species of pathogenic bacteria in the family Mycobacteriaceae and the causative agent of tuberculosis. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] First discovered in 1882 by Robert Koch , M. tuberculosis has an unusual, waxy coating on its cell surface primarily due to the presence of mycolic acid .
Some individuals may be infected with the tuberculosis mycobacterium but never display symptoms. [27] Called latent tuberculosis , these cases, while uncontagious, are particularly problematic from a public health perspective, since approximately 10% of those diagnosed with latent TB will go on to develop an active (and contagious) case.
Common infections that spread by airborne transmission include SARS-CoV-2; [14] measles morbillivirus, [15] chickenpox virus; [16] Mycobacterium tuberculosis, influenza virus, enterovirus, norovirus and less commonly other species of coronavirus, adenovirus, and possibly respiratory syncytial virus. [17]
Like other forms of TB, XDR-TB is spread through the air. When a person with infectious TB coughs, sneezes, talks or spits, they propel TB germs, known as bacilli, into the air. XDR-TB cannot be spread by kissing, sharing food or drinks, or shaking someone's hand. The bacterium has the ability to stay in the air for several hours. [6]
Once inhaled TB frequently grows in the lungs, but can spread to any part of the body. Although TB is highly contagious, in most cases the human body is able to fend off the bacteria. But, TB can remain dormant in the body for years, and become active unexpectedly. If and when the disease does become active in the body, it can multiply rapidly ...
"A person with TB disease may feel perfectly healthy or may only have a cough from time to time." [12] However, these symptoms do not guarantee tuberculosis, and they may not exist at all, yet the patient may still have active tuberculosis. A person with symptoms listed may have active tuberculosis, and the person should immediately see a ...
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC or MTBC) is a genetically related group of Mycobacterium species that can cause tuberculosis in humans or other animals. It includes: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacterium africanum; Mycobacterium orygis [1] Mycobacterium bovis and the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin strain; Mycobacterium microti ...