Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. In the past, people called it consumption.

TB is caused by several types of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease usually attacks the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body.

Treatment for Tuberculosis

Multiple-drug therapy to treat TB means taking several different antibiotics at the same time. This is the first choice of treatment for TB that is growing in your body (active TB disease). Most of these medicines are given as pills. The American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend using one of several combinations of the first-choice medicines to start treatment.