What are the two types of TB?

What are the two types of TB?

• A. Latent TB infection and TB disease
• B. Acute TB and chronic TB
• C. Primary TB and secondary TB
• D. Active TB and latent TB

Answer: (A)

TB exists in two clinical forms: latent TB infection and TB disease. In latent TB infection, the person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but has no symptoms and is not contagious. A positive TB test indicates infection, but chest X-ray is typically normal and there is no bacteriologic evidence of disease. Without treatment, latent TB can progress to TB disease, especially if the immune system weakens. In TB disease (active TB), symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss appear, and the person can spread the bacteria to others. Diagnosis relies on imaging and positive sputum smear or culture, and treatment requires a full, multi-drug regimen along with infection control measures. Thus the two types are latent TB infection and TB disease; other terms describe different ways of framing TB but do not capture this essential infection-versus-disease distinction.

TB exists in two clinical forms: latent TB infection and TB disease. In latent TB infection, the person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but has no symptoms and is not contagious. A positive TB test indicates infection, but chest X-ray is typically normal and there is no bacteriologic evidence of disease. Without treatment, latent TB can progress to TB disease, especially if the immune system weakens. In TB disease (active TB), symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss appear, and the person can spread the bacteria to others. Diagnosis relies on imaging and positive sputum smear or culture, and treatment requires a full, multi-drug regimen along with infection control measures. Thus the two types are latent TB infection and TB disease; other terms describe different ways of framing TB but do not capture this essential infection-versus-disease distinction.