<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body . Most infections do not have symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis . About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kills about half of those infected . The classic symptoms of active TB are a chronic cough with blood - containing sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss . The historical term "consumption" came about due to the weight loss . Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms . </P> <P> Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze . People with latent TB do not spread the disease . Active infection occurs more often in people with HIV / AIDS and in those who smoke . Diagnosis of active TB is based on chest X-rays, as well as microscopic examination and culture of body fluids . Diagnosis of latent TB relies on the tuberculin skin test (TST) or blood tests . </P> <P> Prevention of TB involves screening those at high risk, early detection and treatment of cases, and vaccination with the bacillus Calmette - Guérin vaccine . Those at high risk include household, workplace, and social contacts of people with active TB . Treatment requires the use of multiple antibiotics over a long period of time . Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem with increasing rates of multiple drug - resistant tuberculosis (MDR - TB). </P>

The method of transmission of tb is called aerosol transmission