What is extrapulmonary tuberculosis?

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by tuberculosis bacteria that have spread beyond the lungs. People from regions where TB is common, infants and very young children, and people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of developing extrapulmonary TB.

The symptoms of the infection depend on the part of the body affected. Areas most commonly infected include:

• Lymph nodes.
• Bones and joints.
• Reproductive or urinary tract organs.
• Tissues covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

Extrapulmonary TB is treated with a combination of medicines for many months.