Tibi (tuberculosis, or TB) is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs and spreads through the air when someone with active TB coughs or sneezes. The main warning sign is a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, often with tiredness, fever or night sweats, poor appetite and weight loss. TB is curable with antibiotics taken every day, usually for about 6 months, and it is essential to finish the full course. TB is still common in Malaysia, with 26,781 cases reported in 2023, and people with diabetes, close contacts of someone with TB, smokers and young children are at higher risk. Babies in Malaysia receive the BCG vaccine free under the National Immunisation Programme.
What is tibi (tuberculosis)?
Tuberculosis (TB), called tibi or sometimes batuk kering in Malay, is an infection caused by bacteria. According to the NHS, it usually affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the glands, bones, skin or brain.
WHO estimates that about a quarter of the world's population has been infected with TB bacteria. Most of these people have latent TB: the bacteria are in the body, but they do not feel ill, have no symptoms and cannot spread it. About 5 to 10% of infected people eventually develop active TB, with symptoms.
| Latent TB | Active TB | |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | None | Cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss and others |
| Can it spread to others? | No | Yes, if it affects the lungs |
| Treatment | Antibiotics, usually for 3 to 6 months | Antibiotics, usually for at least 6 months |
TB in Malaysia. According to Ministry of Health data reported by Bernama, 26,781 TB cases were reported in Malaysia in 2023, up from 25,391 the year before. WHO describes TB as the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, with an estimated 10.7 million people falling ill in 2024.
Simptom tibi: what are the signs of TB?
According to the NHS, symptoms of TB usually come on gradually. Common symptoms include:
- a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, sometimes bringing up phlegm or phlegm with blood in it;
- feeling tired all the time;
- a high temperature or night sweats;
- loss of appetite;
- losing weight without trying;
- feeling generally unwell.
Children may also have difficulty gaining weight or growing. If TB spreads to other parts of the body, it can cause swollen glands, aches and pains, swollen joints, tummy pain, headaches or confusion. WHO notes that symptoms may be mild for many months, so people can spread TB without knowing it.
Batuk kering or TB? In Malay, batuk kering can mean an ordinary dry cough, which is usually caused by a cold, or it can be used to mean TB. Most coughs clear up within 3 to 4 weeks; see our guide to batuk and kahak. A cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks should always be checked.
How does tibi spread?
TB spreads through close contact with people who have active TB in their lungs. According to the NHS, when someone with active TB coughs, they release small droplets containing the bacteria, and you can catch TB if you regularly breathe in these droplets over a long period, for example by living in the same home.
- People with latent TB cannot spread it to others, but latent TB can turn into active TB in the future.
Who is more likely to get tibi?
Anyone can get TB, but according to the NHS and WHO, some people are more likely to get it or become seriously ill, including people who:
- spend a lot of time with someone who has active TB, such as people living in the same home;
- have diabetes, HIV, or another condition or treatment that weakens the immune system; see our guide to kencing manis;
- are undernourished;
- smoke, drink a lot of alcohol or take drugs;
- are children under 5;
- had TB before that was not treated properly.
WHO estimates that in 2024 about 0.93 million new TB cases worldwide were linked to diabetes, 0.97 million to undernutrition and 0.70 million to smoking.
How is tibi diagnosed?
If you have symptoms of TB, a doctor may arrange:
- a chest X-ray, or a scan of the part of the body that may be affected;
- tests on samples of phlegm that you cough up;
- a biopsy (a small sample of tissue or fluid) from the affected area.
If you have no symptoms but are at risk, for example after close contact with someone with TB, you may have a Mantoux skin test or a blood test to check for latent TB.
How is tibi treated?
TB is curable. According to the NHS and WHO:
- active TB is treated with antibiotics taken every day, usually for at least 6 months according to the NHS (WHO gives 4 to 6 months for standard treatment). The most common medicines are rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol;
- latent TB is usually treated with antibiotics for 3 to 6 months to stop it becoming active;
- if TB has spread to the brain, spinal cord or around the heart, steroid medicine may also be needed for a few weeks.
Finish the full course, even if you feel better. Stopping early can make TB come back, and WHO warns that it can make the bacteria resistant to the medicines. Drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) can still be treated, but it needs other medicines that tend to be more expensive and have more side effects.
How can you prevent tibi?
- BCG vaccine. In Malaysia, the BCG vaccine is part of the free National Immunisation Programme for babies, listed on the government portal as protecting against batuk kering (TB); the same programme includes the MMR vaccine (see our guide to cacar air and campak). WHO says BCG prevents deaths from TB and protects children from serious forms of the disease.
- Get checked early. If you have a cough for more than 3 weeks or other symptoms, see a doctor so that treatment can start as soon as possible.
- Close contacts of someone with TB may be offered tests and, if they have latent TB, preventive treatment.
- Look after your health: keep diabetes well controlled, eat well, and avoid smoking and heavy drinking, as these raise the risk of TB disease.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor, according to the NHS, if:
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks;
- you feel tired all the time for no reason;
- you have a high temperature or night sweats that do not go away;
- you often do not feel hungry, or keep losing weight without trying;
- you have spent a lot of time with someone who has TB and has symptoms.
Get urgent help if you are coughing up blood or phlegm with blood in it.
Go to the emergency department if you have a stiff neck and severe headache, find bright lights painful, have had a seizure, have sudden confusion, or have weakness or loss of movement in part of the body. These could be signs that TB has spread to the brain (meningitis).
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is tibi (TB)?
Tibi, or tuberculosis (TB), is an infection caused by bacteria that usually affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when someone with active TB in the lungs coughs or sneezes. TB is preventable and curable with a full course of antibiotics, but it can be serious if not treated.
What are the symptoms of tibi (simptom tibi)?
Common symptoms are a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, sometimes with phlegm or blood, feeling tired all the time, a high temperature or night sweats, loss of appetite, losing weight without trying, and feeling generally unwell. Symptoms usually come on gradually and may be mild for months.
Is batuk kering the same as tibi?
In Malaysia, batuk kering is sometimes used to mean tuberculosis, and the government immunisation list describes the BCG vaccine as protecting against batuk kering (TB). But batuk kering also means an ordinary dry cough, which is usually caused by a cold. A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks should be checked for TB.
How does tibi spread?
When someone with active TB coughs, they release small droplets containing the bacteria. You usually catch TB by regularly breathing in these droplets over a long period, for example by living with someone who has it. People with latent TB have no symptoms and cannot spread it.
Can tibi be cured?
Yes. TB is usually treated with antibiotics, such as rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, usually taken every day for about 6 months. It is important to finish the whole course even if you feel better, because stopping early can make TB come back or become resistant to the medicines.
Who is more likely to get tibi?
Anyone can get TB, but the risk is higher if you live with someone who has active TB, have diabetes, HIV or another condition that weakens the immune system, are undernourished, smoke or drink a lot of alcohol, or are a young child. In Malaysia, 26,781 TB cases were reported in 2023.
Is there a vaccine for tibi?
Yes. The BCG vaccine helps protect against TB and is part of Malaysia's free National Immunisation Programme for babies. According to WHO, BCG prevents deaths from TB and protects children from serious forms of the disease.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
