What is Tuberculosis ?
Will I Get Tuberculosis ? |
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Most people who breathe in these TB bacteria will not get TB as a disease.
Most patients with tuberculosis will not spread the disease to other people for two reasons. First, they may have responded to drug therapy, and are no longer infectious; or they may not be coughing. A rule that is generally accepted is that people with untreated pulmonary TB, and smear-positive sputum are the only people capable of spreading the disease. Only 1 out of 10 healthy people exposed to TB germs will develop active TB.
Tuberculosis cannot be passed on by a person who is taking their TB pills.
Furthermore, many people on the receiving end of the germs will not develop the disease because of a developed immunity. If you have been previously exposed to TB germs, or if you have previously developed tuberculosis, you are much less likely to get the disease at your next exposure. This is because your body has already been introduced to the germs and can recognize them as a danger. Your immune system will immediately attack the germs and prevent infection. Conversely, those whose immune system is compromised--by deteriorated body condition in aging, or by diseases such as those caused by HIV--are far more likely to develop TB.