TB, or tuberculosis, typically affects the lungs and can become an extremely serious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that some people develop TB within weeks of becoming infected, while others develop the disease years later once their immune systems become too weak to fight it. As MayoClinic.com points out, anyone can get this disease. However, certain factors increase these risks.
Close Personal Contact
While close contact with someone who has the infection is one cause of TB, MayoClinic.com explains that a person needs to spend long periods of time with an infected person who is not receiving treatment. A person is generally most likely to contract TB this way from a relative, a roommate or a coworker.
People With Weak Immune Systems
While a healthy immune system is able to fight TB, one that is weak cannot. A variety of medical conditions results in weak immune systems and these include HIV/AIDS, certain cancers, end-stage kidney disease and diabetes. MayoClinic.com adds that certain medications also weaken the immune system, including chemotherapy drugs, corticosteroids and some arthritis medications.
A Person's Age
As a person becomes older, their immune system becomes weaker, a major risk factor for developing TB. In addition, elderly people living in nursing homes face a greater risk, as many outbreaks of TB occur in these areas, according to MayoClinic.com.
Emmigrating From Certain Countries
Some countries and regions have a higher rate of TB cases than others, including India, the islands of Southeast Asia, Africa, China and Micronesia. As MayoClinic.com explains, some of the most common countries of origin for TB transmission include Mexico, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Workers in Residential Health Care Facilities
People who work in any type of residential facility, whether this be a nursing home, a prison or an immigration center, are all at risk for developing TB. These facilities typically have poor ventilation, which allows droplets of the infection to concentrate in the air. Overcrowding is another common problem, putting workers and residents both at risk.
