﻿ Tuberculosis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What happens to the
body when a person gets TB? - OnHealth  Tuberculosis (cont.)
Medical Author: Medical Editor:  What happens to the body when a
person gets TB?  When the inhaled tuberculosis bacteria enter
the lungs, they can multiply and cause a local lung infection
(pneumonia). The local lymph nodes associated with the lungs may
also become involved with the infection and usually become
enlarged. The hilar lymph nodes (the lymph nodes adjacent to the
heart in the central part of the chest) are often involved.  In
addition, TB can spread to other parts of the body. The body's
immune (defense) system, however, can fight off the infection
and stop the bacteria from spreading. The immune system does so
ultimately by forming scar tissue around the TB bacteria and
isolating it from the rest of the body. Tuberculosis that occurs
after initial exposure to the bacteria is often referred to as
primary TB. If the body is able to form scar tissue (fibrosis)
around the TB