Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a lung infection caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Common symptoms include a persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks), chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. TB can be active (causing symptoms and spreading to others) or latent (dormant in the body without symptoms but can become active later). It is diagnosed through chest X-rays, sputum tests, and blood tests. TB is curable with a long course of antitubercular drugs (usually 6 months or more). If untreated, it can become serious, so early diagnosis and treatment are important.
