Causes:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis was immobile and slow-growing, and it was thought to

be the primary cause of tuberculosis (TB). In 1882, a German physician and microbiologist
named Robert Koch discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the pathogen that causes
phthisis. The only way to contract TB is by inhaling contaminated air, as the TB bacteria can
spread from one person to another through the air. For example, if someone infected with
tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, or speaks, they have a high chance of spreading the disease.
Furthermore, the disease cannot be transmitted by shaking hands, using a toilet, sharing
drinking glasses or utensils, or even touching other surfaces. Those who have recently been
exposed to the TB bacteria or those with immune-compromising illnesses are at a higher risk
of contracting the disease. Dr. Amler claims that due to their immune systems' vulnerability
to tuberculosis, people with HIV or AIDS have a significantly higher risk of contracting TB
disease than those with healthy immune systems.
TB infections are classified into three stages: primary, latent, and active. Primary
tuberculosis infection is the first stage in which immune cells locate and capture the
microbes. Some of the microbes that were captured may still survive and grow even after the
immune system has completely destroyed them. Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when
immune cells surround lung tissue with TB bacteria. They cannot cause harm if the immune
system controls them, but the bacteria can survive. In this stage, there are no symptoms.
According to NHS24, up to 10% of people with latent TB develop active TB years after the
initial infection. This usually occurs when the immune system is compromised, such as
during chemotherapy. On the other hand, active TB disease takes place when the immune
system is unable to regulate an infection. A tuberculosis infection can spread from the lungs
to the rest of the body. This is referred to as extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
People with a normal, healthy immune system are unlikely to be at risk of
tuberculosis because infection is rare. According to Lee Reichman, MD, professor of
medicine and epidemiology, there is a greater chance of contracting parasites in Africa than
TB. However, we cannot change the fact that anyone may acquire tuberculosis (TB).
Nevertheless, people who are young and old tend to be vulnerable, and people with poor
health and diet due to lifestyle issues and other issues such as drug and alcohol abuse can
be at the greatest risk of developing one.

References:
TB Risk Factors. (2016, March 18). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/risk.htm#:~:text=Close%20contacts%20of%20a
%20person,and%20persons%20with%20HIV%20infectionhttps://www.mayoclinic.org/
diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250
Website, N. (2022, December 21). Causes. nhs.uk.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/causes/#:~:text=Tuberculosis%20(TB)%20is
%20caused%20by,droplets%2C%20which%20contain%20TB%20bacteria.
Mycobacteria | General information. (n.d.).
https://www.hain-lifescience.de/en/products/microbiology/mycobacteria/mycobacteria.html