Tuberculosis

Key facts

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most commonly affecting the lungs.
• It spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and remains one of the world's leading infectious causes of illness and death.
• Treatment combines several antibiotics, rifampicin and ethambutol among them, for six months or longer to stop resistance developing.
• A persistent cough of three weeks or more, especially with blood-tinged sputum, night sweats, or weight loss, needs prompt medical assessment.

Why treatment takes months, not days

TB bacteria divide slowly and can hide inside cells, so a short course of antibiotics is not enough. Standard treatment runs six months or longer, combining several medicines to stop the bacteria developing resistance. Rifampicin is the cornerstone of most regimens, carrying patients through both the initial intensive phase and the continuation phase that follows. Ethambutol is added in the early weeks to cover resistant strains. For drug-resistant TB, second-line agents such as ethionamide or cycloserine may be needed instead.

Recognising the warning signs

Active pulmonary TB typically produces a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more, often with blood-tinged sputum. Night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and a prolonged low-grade fever are common alongside it. Anyone with these signs, or who has been in close contact with a confirmed TB case, should seek medical assessment promptly: early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes and limits spread to others.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.