Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Tuberculosis or TB, is an infectious disease caused by a microorganism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect many different parts of the body, although it usually infects the lungs. Tuberculosis in the lungs is called pulmonary tuberculosis. The first stage lasts for several months. The immune system resists TB during this stage. Most of the bacteria are walled in by a fibrous capsule that forms around it. A few will make it to the bloodstream where they will be eventually walled in. Most cases never develop beyond this stage. This is known as TB infection. If the immune system is not able to stop the infection and the bacteria not treated, the bacteria begin the second stage. During this stage, the bacteria reproduce quickly and destroy the lung tissues. TB usually results in a much smaller respiratory capacity, which in turn makes physical exercise difficult. This stage usually begins if a person’s i