Tuberculosis (TB)

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs. However, TB bacteria can attack any part of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are not sick have what is called a latent TB infection. People who have a latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But some people with a latent TB infection go on to get active TB disease.

People with active TB disease can be treated and cured if they seek medical help. Even better, people with a latent TB infection can take medicine so that they will not develop active TB disease.

How is TB spread?

Tuberculosis (TB) is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move to other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.

TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidneys or spine, is usually not infectious.

People with active TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with.

What are the symptoms of TB?

Active TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:

• A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• Pain in the chest
• Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm) from deep inside the lungs

Other symptoms of active TB disease are:

• Weakness or fatigue,
• Weight loss,
• No appetite,
• Chills,
• Fever, and
• Sweating at night.

Symptoms of active TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected:

• TB disease of the lymph nodes may cause a firm red or purple swelling under the skin.
• TB disease of the kidney may cause blood in the urine.
• TB meningitis (TB disease of the brain) may cause headache or confusion.
• TB disease of the spine may cause back pain.
• TB disease of the larynx may cause hoarseness.

What is a TB skin test?

The Tuberculosis (TB) skin test is a method used to diagnose a TB infection. A small needle is used to inject some testing material called tuberculin into the upper layers of the skin, usually done on the inside of the forearm. The person getting the test must return two to three days later to have the test site on the arm examined by a medical professional. If there is a reaction on the arm, the size of the reaction is measured. A positive reaction, usually a small bump, means that the person probably has a TB infection. Other tests are needed to determine if the person has a latent TB infection or active TB disease.

To schedule an appointment for a TB skin test, call our nursing division at (419) 447-3691 ext. 6333.