Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other organs. The disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread by droplet infection when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Typical symptoms include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Tuberculosis was particularly prevalent in concentration camps during the Second World War, as prisoners suffered from extremely poor hygienic conditions and malnutrition. Today, tuberculosis is treatable if detected early, but it remains a significant health threat in some regions of the world.