Tuberculosis Fact Sheet

What is TB? Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused People with TB disease usually have one or more by a bacterium, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, of the symptoms of TB and are sick because the which usually affects the lungs. However, other TB germs are active and multiplying in their body. parts of the body can also be affected. Not People with TB disease in their lungs can spread everyone infected with TB gets sick. As a result, TB germs to others. there are two TB-related conditions: Latent TB Infection (LTBI) and active TB disease. How can I tell if I have TB? A tuberculin skin test (TST), or blood test (IGRA), How is TB spread? is done to detect TB infection. If either of these When someone with active TB disease of the lung tests are positive, a chest x-ray and other exams coughs, sneezes, or sings, TB germs get into the will be done to make sure you do not have TB air. People who share the same air space with disease. Your doctor can perform a TB test. this person may breathe in these germs. What is the treatment of TB? Who gets TB? Tuberculosis drugs (antibiotics) are required for Anyone can get TB. People at greater risk are persons with TB disease to prevent the spread of family members, friends, and coworkers who disease to others. Preventive treatment is for share the same air space with the person who people with TB infection (LTBI) to prevent the has TB disease of the lungs. Others at risk progression to active disease in the future. These include the elderly, homeless, prisoners, nursing drugs are usually taken for 6 to 12 months. If TB home residents, alcoholics, injection drug users, disease is not treated properly, it can be fatal. people with medical conditions such as diabetes, HIV infection (the virus that cause AIDS), certain What can be done to stop the spread of TB? types of cancer, and people who are underweight. It is critical for the patient to take his/her TB drugs as prescribed by their provider and cover their What are the symptoms of TB? nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. TB disease can cause infection in the lung (pulmonary), which is considered infectious to What is multi-drug resistant TB? others. TB disease can also occur outside of the Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB is caused by the lung (extrapulmonary), which is not infectious. For bacteria being resistant to the first line antibiotic active, pulmonary TB disease, general symptoms medication. This can develop when TB patients may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, do not take their TB medications as prescribed by fever, night sweats, and a cough lasting three or the doctor.. When resistance occurs, one or more more weeks. Persons with TB of the lung may of the TB drugs can no longer kill the TB germs. have complaints of cough, chest pain, and/or There is also extensively drug resistant (XRD) TB coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on that has been identified when the TB bacteria is the particular part of the body that is affected. resistant to the most potent TB drugs available.

What is the difference between TB infection Where can I get more information? (LTBI) and TB disease? For more information contact your healthcare People with TB infection (without disease) have provider or local health center. You can also TB germs in their body but are not sick because contact the Maine Center for Disease Control and the germs are not active. They cannot spread the Prevention by calling 1-800-821-5821. The federal germ to others. However, these people may Centers for Disease Control and Prevention develop TB disease in the future, if the TB germ website - http://www.cdc.gov /tb – is another becomes active. excellent source of health information.

Created on: 11/24/2008 Updated 5/5/2014 Source of Information: Maine TB Prevention and Control Program and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention