TB germs are spread through the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can remain in the air for several hours and be breathed in, causing a latent TB infection. People with latent TB have TB germs in their body but are not sick, while those with active TB disease are sick from multiplying germs destroying tissue and usually have symptoms. Treatment is prescribed to those with latent TB to prevent future disease and those with active TB disease to cure the illness and stop spread.

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Causes of TB
Module 2:

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Module 2: Causes of TB
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Everyday Health
• TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB
disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes,
speaks, or sings.
• Germs can stay in the air for several hours,
depending on the environment.
• Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB
germs can become infected; this is called latent TB
infection.

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Causes of TB
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The difference between latent TB Infection – and TB Disease….
People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their
bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not
active.
These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and
they cannot spread the germs to others.
They may develop TB disease in the future. They are often
prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB
disease.

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Causes of TB
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People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are
active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying
tissue in their body.
Usually have symptoms of TB disease.
People with TB disease of the lungs or throat can spread
germs to others, they are prescribed drugs that can treat
TB disease..

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Latent TB vs TB Disease
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