What is tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious illness caused by a bacterium (germ) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
How is TB spread?
TB is spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB of the lung coughs, sneezes, laughs, or sings. TB can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidney, or the spine. Tuberculosis is a disease that can be cured if treated properly.
Who gets TB?
Anyone can get TB, but some people have a better chance of getting TB, including:
- Babies and small children;
- People who share the same breathing space (like families, friends and coworkers) with someone who has TB;
- People with low incomes who live in crowded conditions, do not eat well, and do not have good health care;
- Homeless people;
- People born in countries where a lot of people have TB;
- People who live in nursing homes;
- People in jails and prisons;
- Alcoholics and people who use needles to inject drugs;
- People with medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure, and those with weakened immune systems (such as HIV or AIDS).
What are the symptoms of TB?
The symptoms of TB are feeling weak or sick, fast weight loss (in a few weeks or months), fever, and night sweats. Symptoms of TB of the lungs may include cough, chest pain, or coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on the part of the body that is affected.
What is the difference between TB infection and TB disease?
People with TB disease are sick from bacteria that are active in their body. They usually have one or more of the symptoms of TB. These people can give TB to others. Medications can cure TB disease; usually three or more medications are given to treat TB disease. People with TB infection (without disease) have the bacteria that cause TB in their body. They are not sick because the germ lies inactive (as if it were asleep) in the body. These people cannot spread the germ to others. Medications are often given to these people to stop them from getting TB disease in the future.
How do I know if I have TB?
You can get a TB skin test from your doctor or the local health department. A negative test usually means the person is not does not have the TB germs. Sometimes, the test shows a false negative in a person who has been recently infected with the TB germs (it usually takes two to 10 weeks after coming into contact with a person with TB disease for the skin test to be positive). The test may also be falsely negative if the person’s immune system is not working properly.
A positive skin test usually means that the person has TB germs in their body. It does not necessarily mean that the person has TB disease. Other tests, like a lung x-ray or sputum (spit) sample are needed to see if the person has TB disease.
What should I do if I have TB infection or TB disease?
- Get all of the tests that your doctor orders.
- Stay at home until your doctor tells you it is okay to return to work or school. Do not have visitors (especially children) until your doctor says it is okay.
- Keep all of your medical appointments.
- Take all your TB medications as ordered by your doctor. Medications must be taken for long periods of time.
