Tuberculosis

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Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that infects the lungs and sometimes spreads to other parts of the body. TB is spread person-to-person when an individual with active TB coughs, sending many tiny TB germs into the air. A healthy person then breathes the germs into his/her lungs. When this happens, the healthy person has been exposed to TB.

The person's body may kill all the TB germs or the TB may remain alive but inactive in the body; this is TB infection. People with TB infection are not sick and cannot make others sick, but they may become sick in the future if they are not treated with special antibiotics for six months or longer.

People with TB infection who are not treated may progress to active TB, which is a serious disease. At this stage, a person may feel sick and can infect others, especially close family and friends. People with active TB must receive an individualized course of antibiotic treatment, or their disease may become life-threatening and they will continue to infect others.

Transmission

In order for infection to occur, a healthy person usually must come in very close contact with a person who has active TB and who is coughing. Furthermore, this form of contact usually occurs in an enclosed space with little fresh air and over a long period of time. Even under these conditions, people sometimes do not become infected. A person who is sick with active TB can decrease the chance of spreading the disease by simply covering their mouth when they cough. TB cannot be spread by touching tissues, eating utensils, or linens that have been used by a person with  active TB. It can only be spread by breathing air containing TB germs. People who have only TB infection, and not active TB, cannot make others sick!

Testing

A skin test identifies if a person has TB infection. A small amount of PPD solution is placed just beneath the skin on the underside of the forearem. After three days the area is measured for reaction. A positive skin test indicates that TB germs may be present in the body. However, the skin test alone does not determine if a person has TB infection or active TB. Other tests must be done in order to make a final diagnosis.

Treatment

People with either TB infection and active TB disease can be cured by completing a prescribed treatment with antibiotics. Those with other complicating medical conditions such as HIV or who have a drug-resistant form of the TB germ, may require longer or more complex treatment.  For further information, go to Tuberculosis Control.