What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that in most cases affects the lungs, but can also affect organs. The therapy consists of a combination of medication, lasts at least 6 months and in most cases leads to a cure. Not all patients are at risk of infection.

It is estimated that one in four people worldwide is infected with the tuberculosis pathogen, but only around 5-10% of them develop tuberculosis; in 2023, 10.8 million people worldwide were infected. In 2023, around 1.25 million people also died from tuberculosis, making the disease one of the most common causes of death worldwide even today.


Until after the Second World War, tuberculosis was also very widespread in Germany. Thanks to improved living conditions, available drug therapy, but also intensive efforts by the public health system and the DZK, the number of cases fell sharply.

Today, tuberculosis is a rare disease in Germany.

In 2023, 4,481 cases of tuberculosis were reported to the RKI in Germany. Of these, 242 patients were under the age of 16.

Further current figures on tuberculosis for Germany can be found at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the global case numbers on the website of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Certain factors increase the risk of contracting tuberculosis. These include coming from a country with a higher incidence of tuberculosis. Certain illnesses and circumstances also lead to a disease developing after an infection. These include, for example, a recent infection, but also medication or illnesses that weaken the immune system.

The symptoms are often non-specific and can also occur over a longer period of time. For example, weight loss, slight fever, fatigue and night sweats may occur. A prolonged cough is typical of pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can also occur without symptoms.

How is tuberculosis diagnosed? 

If tuberculosis is suspected, an X-ray of the chest and lungs and an examination of sputum are usually carried out. The detection of tuberculosis bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) confirms the disease. Sometimes further examinations such as a lung endoscopy or microbiological examination of other tissue samples are necessary.