National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  National Institutes of Health
NIAID Home Health & Science Research Funding Research News & Events Labs at NIAID About NIAID

Tuberculosis
 What is TB?
 TB Basics
  Overview
  Cause
  Transmission
  Symptoms
  Diagnosis
  Treatment
  Prevention
  TB and HIV
  General Publications
 Research


Tuberculosis (TB)

Transmission

TB is primarily an airborne disease. The bacteria are spread from person to person in tiny microscopic droplets when a TB sufferer coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings, or laughs. Only people with active TB can spread the disease to others. People with TB who have been treated with the correct drugs for at least 2 weeks, however, are no longer contagious and do not spread the bacteria to others.

previous link Cause | Index | Symptoms next link

Research Feature

Mother and two young children, photo.

TB is an old disease, but one that still ranks among the foremost killers of the 21st century.
Read more.


E-mail Icon E-mail this page
Print Icon Print this page

Research Feature

Mother and two young children, photo.

TB is an old disease, but one that still ranks among the foremost killers of the 21st century.
Read more.