Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
It mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body, including the tummy, glands, bones and nervous system.
A potentially serious condition, it can be cured if it's treated with the right antibiotics.
Symptoms can include a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody, weight loss, night sweats, high temperature, tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite and swellings in the neck.
Over the last 20 years, TB has been slowly increasing in the UK with around 7,000 cases each year.
The BCG vaccine offers protection against TB however it is no longer offered to children in secondary schools.
It was replaced in 2005 with a targeted programme for babies, children and young adults at higher risk of TB.
This is because TB rates in the UK are low in the general population.
There are between 150 and 200 cases of TB Meningitis each year in the UK.
TB infection usually begins in the lungs and in about one or two per cent of cases, the infection can progress to TB meningitis
At least 20 of per cent of people diagnosed with TB Meningitis will suffer long-term after-effects.
Between 15 and 20 per cent of patients will die, despite receiving treatment and care.
