Tuberculosis Awareness

What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).
The bacteria, or germs, usually attack the lungs, but it can attack any part of the body, such as the kidney, spine, or brain.
Not all who get infected with TB germs becomes sick
Good news is that People with TB can be treated if they seek medical help.

TB Spreads Through the Air

TB spreads from person to person when someone with active TB disease coughs, speaks, or sings
People with TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day, including family members, friends, coworkers, or schoolmates.

What is latent Tb infection (LTBI) ?

Inactive TB

People with latent TB infection or inactive TB
Do not feel sick, do not have symptoms, and cannot spread
TB germs to others
Can have inactive TB for years
Have a small amount of TB germs in their bodies that are
alive but inactive
Inactive TB can develop into TB disease

TB Disease

If TB germs become active and multiply, inactive TB can turn into TB disease.

What is Tb Disease ?

If the immune system can’t stop TB germs, they multiply and cause TB disease.
In the lungs, TB germs can create holes.
Some people develop TB soon after infection, while others with latent TB may get sick years later when their immune system weakens.
Treating latent TB infection is effective in preventing TB disease.

People with TB Disease Are Sick and Can Spread TB Germs

TB disease is a serious condition and can lead to death if not treated.
TB disease can almost always be treated and cured with medicine
A person with TB disease typically requires the following:

X-rays

4-6 months of medicine

Lab tests

Follow up and testing of close contacts

Who can get Tb?

Some people have a higher risk of getting infected with TB:

People who have contact with someone who has infectious TB disease
People who were born in or who frequently travel to countries where TB disease is common, including Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, Guatemala, and other countries with high rates of TB
Health care workers and others who work or live in places at high risk for TB transmission, such as homeless shelters, jails, and nursing homes

Who Is at Higher Risk for Becoming Infected with TB Germs?

Some people have a higher risk of getting infected with TB:

People who have contact with someone who has infectious TB disease
People who were born in or who frequently travel to countries where TB disease is common, including Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, Guatemala, and other countries with high rates of TB
Health care workers and others who work or live in places at high risk for TB transmission, such as homeless shelters, jails, and nursing homes

Who are at risk of getting Tb?

People at high risk for developing TB disease generally fall into two categories:
- Those who have been recently infected with TB germs
- Those with medical conditions that weaken the immune system, such as:

HIV Infection

Diabetes

Specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease

Organ Transplants

Severe Kidney Disease

Head or Neck Cancer

Substance Abuse

Medical treatments such as corticosteroids

Silicosis

Low body weight

Possible TB Disease Symptoms

Night Sweats

Fever

Chills

Weakness or Fatigue

Weight Loss

No Appetite

Cough lasting longer than 3 weeks

Pain in the chest

Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from inside the lungs)

What is the difference between latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease?

Person with Inactive TB	Person with TB Disease
Has a small amount of TB germs in their body that are alive but inactive	Has a small amount of TB germs in their body that are alive but inactive
Cannot spread TB germs to others	May spread TB germs to others
Has no symptoms and does not feel sick, but may become sick if the germs become active in their body	Has symptoms that may include a cough ≥3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, Fever, sweating at night
Usually has a positive TB skin test or TB blood test result indicating TB infection	Usually has a positive TB skin test or TB blood test result indicating TB infection
Has a normal chest x-ray and a negative sputum smear	May have an abnormal chest x-ray, or positive sputum smear or culture
Needs treatment for inactive TB infection to prevent TB disease	Needs treatment for active TB disease

Two Types of Tests Can Be Used to Diagnose TB Infection

TB Blood Test

Blood is drawn and sent to a lab for analysis.

Positive blood test: A person likely has been infected with
TB germs. Additional tests are needed to determine if the person has inactive TB or TB disease.
Negative blood test: A person’s blood did not react to the test and inactive TB, or TB disease is not likely.

The TB blood test is also known as an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA).

TB Skin Test

The TB skin test, also called the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST), requires two visits with a health care provider

What if I have been vaccinated with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)?

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)

Is a vaccine for TB disease
Is often given to infants and small children in countries where TB is more common
Protects against severe forms of active TB in children
Protection from TB goes away as people get older

If I have latent TB infection (LTBI), how can I avoid developing TB disease?

People with inactive TB should take medicine to prevent the development of TB disease, even though they don’t feel sick
Compared to treatment for TB disease, inactive TB treatment Is
shorter,
Is less costly,
Has fewer side effects

How is TB disease treated?

People with TB disease can pass TB germs to their family, friends, and others around them if they don’t take TB medicine the right way
People with TB disease need to take several medicines when they start treatment
After taking TB medicine for several weeks, a doctor will be able to tell TB patients when they are no longer able to spread TB germs to others
Most people take TB medicine for at least 4 months to
be cured
If you have TB disease, you will take several medicines when you start your
treatment to kill the TB germs in your body.
Several different TB medicines are taken together as there are many TB germs to be killed.
Taking several TB medicines will do a better job of killing all the TB germs and preventing them from becoming resistant to the medicines.
The most common medicines used to treat TB disease are
Isoniazid (INH)
Rifampin (RIF)
Ethambutol (EMB)
Pyrazinamide (PZA)

What is directly observed therapy (DOT)?

It is the most effective strategy for ensuring that patients stay on track with their treatment
A health care worker will watch you swallow each dose of the prescribed drugs
During DOT visits, the health care worker will check in with you to:
answer questions
make sure the treatment is working
watch for side effects

How can I remember to take my TB medicines if I am not on DOT?

To remember to take your TB medicines if you’re not on DOT, follow these tips:

Routine: Take your pills at the same time daily, such as before breakfast or after brushing your teeth.
Reminders: Ask a family member or friend to remind you.
Calendar: Mark each day on a calendar when you take your pills.
Pill Dispenser: Use a weekly pill dispenser and keep it in a convenient place.
Medicine Tracker: Use a medicine tracker to organize your pills. Printable LTBI medicine trackers are available on the CDC website.

How can I keep from spreading TB?

Medication and Appointments: Take all medicines as directed and keep all clinic appointments for monitoring.
Hospitalization: Stay in special rooms with air vents if hospitalized, and staff will wear protective masks.
Home Care:

Take medicines exactly as directed.
Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing, sneezing, or laughing and dispose of tissues properly.
Isolate yourself from others, avoid close contact, and sleep separately. Avoid visitors, work, and school.
Ventilate your room frequently, using a fan to exhaust air outside and opening windows for fresh air.