Most active tuberculosis illnesses occur within two years of initial infection, but sometimes the infection can lie dormant for decades before suddenly exploding into active disease. Often, the factors leading to active disease are clear—a compromised immune system from HIV, malnutrition, stress, or air pollution all might trigger the disease into life. Immunosuppressive drugs that treat autoimmune disorders like Ulcerative Colitis can also cause TB infections to become active disease, which is why Americans often hear tuberculosis listed among potential side effects in drug commercials. But
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