Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infectious disease. It can have either active or inactive forms. Although it can affect many organ systems, it mostly affects the lungs.
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis . When a person with active TB of the lungs coughs or sneezes, people nearby may inhale the bacteria. TB is easily spread in crowded conditions. It is also easily spread among people who are ill or have weakened immune systems.
These factors increase your chance of developing TB:
TB causes no symptoms in most patients. In others it is fatal. The bacteria lie dormant in the lungs. Bacteria may remain there permanently without causing illness. During this time, the infected person cannot spread TB to others. The infection spreads once the bacteria are active.
If you have any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to TB. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have any of these:
A skin test is used to screen for TB. A small amount of tuberculin test fluid is injected into the skin of the lower part of your arm. The test is positive if, after 2-3 days, a raised, firm welt appears at the injection site. The welt is 10 millimeters (mm) or greater in diameter (5 mm or 15 mm under some situations).
A positive test means you were exposed to TB, even if you never became ill. People at high risk for TB should have a skin test regularly. Also, a new blood test is available to screen for TB. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
If you have symptoms or signs of active TB, your doctor may order the following:
Medication can prevent TB from becoming active. It can also help cure active TB. It is very important that you take all medication exactly as prescribed. Take all the medication, even if the symptoms go away. If you do not finish your medication, you may develop drug-resistant TB. This form is very difficult to cure.
People who have a positive skin test but no signs of active TB may need to take medication to prevent active TB. The drug isoniazid is usually given for six months or longer.
Your doctor may give you a combination of the following drugs:
If you have active TB, you will need to be isolated from friends, family, and coworkers until your doctor says you are no longer contagious. This is usually after the first several weeks of medication use. This will help prevent the spread of TB. You can resume your normal activities after you get your doctor’s approval. You will need to keep taking the drugs until your doctor tells you to stop. This can be six months. In some cases this may be up to two years.
If you have a positive skin test, you might prevent active TB from developing by taking medication. There is a vaccine . It is not routinely used in the US because of the unreliable protection it provides. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
If you have active TB, you can prevent its spread by:
RESOURCES:
American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
References:
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination. Centers for Disease Control website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm . Accessed July 9, 2008.
Harrison TR, Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Guide to Internal Medicine . 16th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2001.
Last reviewed October 2009 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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