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Pulmonary tuberculosis
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Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium that travels through the air. Once inhaled, it can reach the lungs, settle there, and begin to grow.
Having the bacterium in the body does not always mean that active disease is present. In inactive tuberculosis infection, the body keeps the bacteria contained: the person is infected but does not have active tuberculosis and does not spread the bacteria. In active pulmonary tuberculosis, the bacteria multiply and can enter the air when the person coughs, speaks, or sings. The difference is between bacteria that remain contained and bacteria that are actively growing and able to spread.
In brief
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis; after being inhaled, the bacteria can settle and grow in the lungs.
Active pulmonary disease can release bacteria into the air when a person coughs, speaks, or sings; in inactive tuberculosis infection the bacteria stay contained, there is no active disease, and the infection does not spread to others.
The same bacterium can remain contained without causing active disease or multiply and produce active tuberculosis.
Sources (1)
- Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTuberculosis: Causes and How It SpreadsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated