Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is caused by infection from the microbe, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although the most common site of infection is the lung, tuberculosis may also cause infections in other parts of the body, such as bone, joints, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract and the brain. 

Not all persons develop tuberculosis when exposed to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Once exposed, some people may not develop tuberculosis, others develop latent infection (where there are no signs and symptoms) and others develop active infection (either early after exposure or many years later when the latent tuberculosis reactivates).