Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection in the lungs. The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis attacks the tissue in the lungs and may spread to other locations in the body. Tuberculosis is contagious and can transfer easily when an infected individual coughs, sneezes or talks closely with another person and droplets move through the air. Symptoms associated with TB include a severe cough that may produce blood or bloody mucous, fever, night sweats and fatigue. A combination of medications helps treat cases of TB, but complications may still occur.
Lung Damage
Without prompt treatment, the bacterial infection may cause permanent damage to the lung tissue with pulmonary TB. This damage can make breathing difficult for the affected individual. Damage to the lungs may appear on an X-ray of the chest.
Pain
When the TB bacteria enter the bones, pain accompanies the infection. The bacteria can cause abscesses or destruction of the tissue in the joints, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. The damage to the tissue causes the severe pain.
Meningitis
If the bacteria enter the brain or the spinal canal, meningitis can occur as a complication. Meningitis is an inflammation or infecting involving the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of meningitis include a high fever, a headache and a stiff neck. Proper medical treatment is necessary to prevent permanent damage to the brain or spinal cord or death from the infection.
Drug Resistance
Some forms of TB become resistant to the medications used to treat the infection. When the drug resistance occurs, the infection spreads and does not respond to first-line medications normally used to treat the condition. Not taking the medicines correctly or physicians prescribing the incorrect medications can lead to the drug resistant type of TB, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Miliary TB
Without treatment, TB continues to spread throughout the body, affecting all organ systems. Damage to the entire body may occur if the bacteria continue to invade the tissues of the body. This whole body involvement is referred to as military TB, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Medication Side Effects
The medications used to treat TB infections can be detrimental to the body. Some of the drugs may cause damage to the liver. This is especially true for individuals with previous liver damage. Other complications involving the medications include vision changes, such as blurry vision and orange-colored tears, according to Medline Plus.
Death
A TB infection without treatment leads to death for the infected individual. Death is more common for individuals with compromised immune systems and for individuals who receive no treatment for the infection.
