You know, when people ask "what does tuberculosis do," they're usually imagining someone coughing violently into a handkerchief like in those old movies. But TB is way more complex than that. I remember my neighbor's battle with it last year - started with what seemed like endless fatigue, then the coughing fits began. Scary stuff. Let me walk you through exactly what this disease does, step by step.

How TB Invades Your Body

So here's the deal: tuberculosis doesn't just give you a cough and call it a day. When those Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria enter your lungs through inhaled droplets, they don't announce themselves immediately. They quietly set up camp in your air sacs. Your immune system sends macrophages to swallow them up, but get this - these bacteria actually survive inside those immune cells!

Crazy, right? They multiply slowly there, creating what doctors call granulomas. Imagine tiny walled-off forts in your lung tissue where the bacteria hide. This stage can last months or even years with zero symptoms. That's why answering "what does tuberculosis do" isn't straightforward - it plays the long game.

The Damage Timeline: What Tuberculosis Does Stage by Stage

Beyond the Lungs: What TB Does to Other Organs

Nobody tells you this when you first wonder "what does tuberculosis do," but about 15-20% of cases become extrapulmonary. I've seen spinal TB literally crumble vertebrae - they call it Pott's disease. The bacteria travel through blood or lymph and wreak havoc:

• Kidneys: Causes bloody urine and back pain by creating ulcers
• Brain: TB meningitis creates life-threatening brain inflammation
• Spine: Erodes vertebral discs causing permanent hunchback
• Lymph nodes: Creates painful neck swellings that ooze pus
• Gut: Mimics Crohn's disease with abdominal pain and diarrhea

Truthfully? The organ-hopping ability of TB is what scares me most. An acquaintance had TB in her ovaries and didn't know until infertility tests.

Your Immune System vs. TB: The Inside Battle

Here's where things get wild. TB doesn't just damage tissue directly - it hijacks your immune response. When immune cells attack the bacteria, they release enzymes that accidentally chew up your own lung tissue. It's like friendly fire in a war zone.

"What tuberculosis does is essentially turn your body's defenses against itself," explains Dr. Anika Rao, infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins. "The cavity formation in lungs isn't primarily from bacteria - it's from an overzealous immune response."

Ever wonder why TB patients waste away? The constant immune activation burns calories like crazy. Patients need 20-30% more calories just to maintain weight - something most treatment programs overlook.

Drug Resistance: When TB Fights Back

Now for the scary reality - drug-resistant TB changes the game. Standard meds? Useless. Treatment duration jumps from 6 months to 18-24 months with nastier side effects.

TB's Toll on Daily Life: More Than Physical Symptoms

We need to talk about what tuberculosis does socially. The stigma is brutal. I've seen:

• People losing jobs during 2-6 month contagious periods
• Families hiding diagnoses due to community shunning
• Depression rates exceeding 50% in long-term patients

The financial toxicity is real too. In the US, even with insurance, TB treatment often costs $20,000+ when you factor in lost wages. And don't get me started on the archaic isolation protocols - one patient described it as "prison with medical bills."

FAQs: What People Really Want to Know

Key Defense Strategies

After seeing what tuberculosis does firsthand, here's my practical advice:

Bottom line? Understanding what tuberculosis does requires looking beyond medical textbooks. It's a thief - stealing health, time, finances and dignity. But with early action and proper support, its destruction can be stopped. If you take anything from this, let it be this: that persistent cough deserves a doctor's visit, not dismissal.