# Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Treatment, and the BCG Vaccine > How to recognize tuberculosis, why it is dangerous, and whether it can be cured. Diagnosis, treatment, the BCG shot for newborns in Georgia, and when to see a doctor. ## What tuberculosis is and how it spreads Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by mycobacteria. It most often attacks the lungs, but it can also involve the lymph nodes, bones, kidneys, and the membranes around the brain. It spreads through the air: when a person with active TB coughs, sneezes, or talks, tiny droplets carrying the bacteria enter the air. TB is practically not spread through dishes, handshakes, or clothing. WHO estimates that about a quarter of the world's population carries the bacteria, but most never become ill: this is latent infection, which causes no symptoms and is not contagious. About 5 to 10 percent of infected people eventually develop active disease. The risk is higher with a weakened immune system (HIV, diabetes, smoking, malnutrition, long-term immunosuppressive drugs) and in young children. ## Tuberculosis symptoms Pulmonary TB starts quietly and for a long time looks like a cold or bronchitis. A combination of signs should raise suspicion: - a cough lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, sometimes with sputum or streaks of blood; - a low-grade fever (often 98.6 to 99.5 °F, or 37 to 37.5 °C) in the evening and night sweats; - weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight; - chest pain when breathing or coughing, shortness of breath. In children, look for lethargy, poor weight gain, and a long fever with no obvious cause. Outside the lungs, symptoms depend on the organ, such as swollen lymph nodes or back pain. A long cough also occurs with other illnesses, for example [whooping cough](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/pertussis), so the diagnosis is made only after testing. ## Why tuberculosis is dangerous Untreated, TB progresses, destroys lung tissue, can spread through the body, and can be fatal. According to WHO, about 1.23 million people died of TB in 2024, and it remains one of the deadliest infections in the world. Drug-resistant TB is also a danger: it develops when treatment is interrupted or done incorrectly, and it requires longer and harder treatment. TB is curable, however, including resistant forms, if treatment is followed through. ## How tuberculosis is diagnosed The doctor orders a chest X-ray or CT, sputum tests (microscopy, culture, rapid molecular tests), and, if needed, tests for TB outside the lungs. Latent infection is detected with a skin test (Mantoux) or a blood test for interferon-gamma (IGRA). A positive test alone does not mean disease: it is interpreted together with the X-ray and an exam. ## Tuberculosis treatment TB is treated with a combination of antibiotics, usually for 4 to 6 months; a TB specialist or infectious disease doctor chooses the regimen based on test results. The key rule is to take the medicines every day and not stop when you feel better. After 2 to 3 weeks of correct treatment most patients are no longer contagious, but the doctor decides. Resistant forms need longer and more complex regimens. In Georgia, the state "Tuberculosis Management" program covers TB testing and treatment, including drug-resistant forms, with no co-payment for citizens and permanent residents, and contacts of patients are screened regardless of citizenship. Patients who stick to their treatment are entitled to a cash incentive under the program. Your doctor will tell you where to go. ## Prevention and the BCG vaccine In Georgia, BCG is part of the national immunization calendar (Minister's Order No. 01-60/n, version of July 13, 2023): it is given free to newborns at the maternity hospital in the first 0 to 5 days of life, as a single dose. If that is missed, the baby is vaccinated at the first opportunity before age 1; BCG is no longer recommended for children over 12 months born in Georgia. BCG protects children from severe forms of TB, mainly meningitis and disseminated disease, but protects less against pulmonary TB in teens and adults. That is why early detection and treatment of patients, ventilated rooms, and testing everyone who was in contact with a patient matter alongside vaccination. Adults are usually not given BCG. If TB is found in your family, the doctor will suggest testing close contacts and, if needed, preventive treatment. ## When to see a doctor - a cough lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, especially with weight loss, night sweats, and fever; - blood in sputum: see a doctor the same day or call an ambulance (112); - contact with someone who has TB, especially for children, pregnant women, and people with HIV or diabetes; - marked shortness of breath, chest pain, or a long unexplained fever in a child. ## Doctors - Giorgi Basheleishvili — Pediatrician, General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/giorgi-basheleishvili (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/giorgi-basheleishvili.md) - Salome Akhvlediani — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/salome-ahvlediani (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/salome-ahvlediani.md) - Khatuna Loladze — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/khatuna-loladze (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/khatuna-loladze.md) - Margarita Zakharevich — Pediatrician, Hematologist: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/margarita-zaharevic (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/margarita-zaharevic.md) - Dmitry Semin — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dimitri-siomin (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dimitri-siomin.md) ## Frequently asked questions ### Is tuberculosis curable today? Yes. According to WHO, TB is curable with antibiotics, and you must finish the entire course, usually 4 to 6 months. Interrupted treatment risks drug-resistant bacteria. ### Can I catch it from ordinary contact? The risk comes from prolonged close contact indoors with someone who has active TB. A chance encounter on the street or on a bus carries almost no risk. A patient on correct treatment quickly stops being contagious. ### If the Mantoux test is positive, does that mean I have TB? Not necessarily. The test can be positive after BCG vaccination or with latent infection. The doctor then orders an X-ray and other tests. ### Does an adult need a BCG shot? Usually not: the vaccine is given in the first days of life, and a doctor decides about any repeat dose. ### Which doctor should I see? Start with a general practitioner, pediatrician, or infectious disease specialist; if TB is suspected they will send you for an X-ray and to a TB specialist. You can find doctors who practice in your city further down this page. ## Related articles - Vaccination for Kindergarten in Georgia: What Parents Need to Know: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/vaccination-kindergarten-georgia (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/vaccination-kindergarten-georgia.md) - Childhood Vaccination in Georgia in 2026: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/childhood-vaccination-in-georgia-in-2026 (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/childhood-vaccination-in-georgia-in-2026.md) ## Symptoms - Weakness and fatigue: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/fatigue - Swollen lymph nodes: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/swollen-lymph-nodes - Cough: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/cough --- Canonical: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/tuberculosis Country: Georgia (GE), the country in the South Caucasus Updated: 2026-10-04T14:14:35+04:00