Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis, a disease that affects the lungs, can spread to other parts of the body such as the brain, bones and kidneys. TB is caused by a bacteria that is carried through the air, most often by the sneezes and cough of someone infected with the disease.

For years the number of cases of active TB has decreased. Now the number of people with TB has started to increase.

Pregnant women with TB can be treated. An infected mother can infect the fetus with Tb through her blood or by breathing in the bacteria at birth. The baby can also be infected with TB by contact with the mother after birth. Women with TB should speak with their doctor to see if they should breastfeed.