Tuberculosis can affect any organ of the body. The lungs are most commonly affected. This is known as pulmonary tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculosis. If other organs are affected, it is called extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This is more common in children or people with a weakened immune system. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis can occur, for example, in the lymph nodes, pleura, urogenital area (urinary tract and genitals) or in the bone. Rare sites of infection are, for example, the skin or the eye. However, it can also affect the meninges (tuberculous meningitis) and thus lead to a serious illness. In miliary tuberculosis, the tuberculosis spreads unchecked, resulting in small, punctiform foci of inflammation throughout the body.

The same drugs are used to treat extrapulmonary tuberculosis as for pulmonary tuberculosis. Sometimes, however, the therapy has to be extended or supplemented with other drugs, e.g. anti-inflammatory drugs. The chances of recovery are also good for extrapulmonary tuberculosis.