Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by a bacteria. While it can affect any part of your body, it usually attacks your lungs. TB is spread through the air. If someone with TB of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, people nearby who breathe in the bacteria may get TB. Some people who breathe in the bacteria may not have symptoms and can't give it to other people. This is called latent TB infection. If the body can't stop the bacteria from growing, people develop TB disease. If this happens and the TB is in the lungs, it can cause several symptoms:

• bad cough (with blood or phlegm)
• chest pain
• fatigue
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• chills
• fever
• sweating at night

Among all women with TB, 81% of TB cases affect minority women. African American women have the highest number of TB cases, compared to all other women.