What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that mainly affects the lungs, although it can affect any part of the body, including the kidneys. The rates of TB infection in the UK are low, at around 8.5 in every 100,000 people, however some low- and middle-income countries have much higher rates.
This page provides additional information on TB for patients who have been diagnosed with this condition by their doctor or if they have had previous exposure to TB.
What are the causes of TB?
TB is caused by a specific type of bacteria called a mycobacterium and is spread from person to person through tiny droplets. These are released when someone who has TB in their lungs, coughs.
Individuals at increased risk of TB include:
- Close contacts of someone who has TB (such as a partner, or someone living in the same house), especially if the person who has TB has it in their lungs and is coughing.
- Individuals whose immune systems is functioning less well. For example, those with HIV or receiving immunosuppression (including kidney transplant patients) or chemotherapy treatments.
- Individuals born or living in an area with higher TB rates.
- Children younger than 5 years old.
- Individuals who live in areas that are overcrowded or have high levels of poor health.
- Individuals who smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs regularly.
- Individuals who have had a TB infection in the past which wasn’t treated completely.
What are the symptoms of TB?
Symptoms of TB can be very non-specific, but can include:
- Cough lasting more than 3 weeks
- Coughing up phlegm (mucus/spit) or blood
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
TB can also spread to other parts of the body. Depending on which areas are affected symptoms can include:
- Aching and pain including around the tummy or pelvis
- Swelling in the joints
- Swelling of the glands and lymph nodes (bean shaped immune structures that can sometimes be felt in areas such as the neck)
- Headache or confusion
- Neck stiffness
- Constipation
- Urine that is dark or cloudy
- Sickness
- A rash
If you have a bad headache and neck stiffness, or sudden onset confusion, you should seek emergency medical attention by calling 999 or going to A&E immediately.
How is TB diagnosed?
There are several tests for TB which include:
- Blood or skin tests
- Medical images such as x-ray, ultrasound, CT or echocardiogram of the chest and/or other parts of the body with the infection
- Testing of coughed up phlegm
- Biopsy of the affected area
How is TB treated?
Specific anti-TB antibiotics are usually taken for at least 6 months.
It is important these antibiotic treatments are monitored effectively. Individuals taking these treatments should make sure to attend all the relevant medical appointments for monitoring, even if they are feeling well. It can also be much harder to treat TB if it has been incompletely treated in the past, so individuals should make sure to complete the full course of antibiotics recommended.
Additional medicines such as steroids may be needed in some cases
Preventative treatments for transplant patients at risk of a TB infection
If you have, or may have been, previously exposed to TB, the bacteria can remain in your body without any symptoms. If you are immunosuppressed, such as when you have a kidney transplant, your immune system works less well, meaning there is an increased risk of TB reactivating. To try and stop TB from reactivating your doctor may give you antibiotics to take following your transplant.
Useful resources
Reviewed March 2026
“I am particularly interested in infectious diseases, and how patients with CKD can overcome them.”
Dr Joseph Sturman
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Dr Joseph Sturman from the University of Birmingham is studying the immune response to infectious diseases in patients with chronic kidney disease and find new ways to decrease their risk of severe infections.
This project could help us to better understand how the immune system is affected by CKD, allowing researchers to identify new ways to prevent infection in this at-risk group.
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