Tuberculosis, or TB, as it is commonly termed as is an infectious disease. The prime target of this disease is the lungs. Sometimes, it might get spread to other body parts also such as joints, bladder, spine and the brain.

TB is basically two types. One is the latent TB, and the other type is the active TB. In the former one, the symptoms are not very apparent and even if the bacteria are present in the body, they do not spread. Simply put, this stage is not contagious at all. Whereas, when the TB is active, it is highly contagious. The bacterium that was already present in the body becomes active causing the disease to spread further.

The presence of tuberculosis bacteria is ascertained through a very common investigation known as PPD skin test. This is sometimes also known as Montaux test. When the PPD test shows positive result, it implies that a person has been exposed to another person who has tuberculosis infection. A positive PPD test would further demand for chest X-ray and some other physical examination to determine whether the tuberculosis is present in its latent form or on active form. Remember, a positive PPD test does not confirm that the person has an active TB. The World Health Organization has reported that among all those who get infected with TB, just only ten percent get active TB.

Killing TB infection takes a lot of time. If you do not have an active TB, then the doctor would advise you to have antibiotic for minimum of six to nine months. Sometimes, people tend to stop the medicines because the symptoms are not severe. But that is not correct. It might result in reoccurrence causing further complications. Active TB, on the other hand, is treated with medicines such as isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide to be taken regularly as prescribed by the doctor.

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