Tuberculosis Facts

• Tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, is a chronic bacterial infection that can spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream to any organ in your body but is usually found in the lungs. In their active state, TB bacteria in essence eat away at the tissue of infected organs, possibly resulting in death. The organisms usually remain inactive after entering the body; thus, most infected people will never develop the active form of the disease if they receive proper care.  

• Because the bacteria that cause tuberculosis are transmitted through the air, the disease can be quite contagious. However, it is nearly impossible to catch TB simply by passing an infected person on the street. To be at risk, you must be exposed to the organisms constantly, by living or working in close quarters with someone who has the active disease. Even then, because the bacteria generally stay dormant after they invade the body, only 10 percent of people infected with TB will ever come down with the active disease. The remaining 90 percent will show no signs of infection, nor will they be able to spread the disease to others. Dormant infections can eventually become active, though, so even people without symptoms should receive medical treatment.
• Once widespread, TB became relatively rare with the help of antibiotic therapies developed in the 1950s. Today, however, a new and highly resistant form has emerged, creating a public-health hazard in many large cities worldwide. If you have TB � in its active or dormant state � you must seek conventional medical treatment.
• In general, minority group members are at highest risk for tuberculosis. In 1998, the incidence rate of tuberculosis among Native Americans was 12.6 per 100,000 persons, more than five times that for non-Hispanic whites (2.3) and nearly twice the risk of the general population.

Symptoms

• At first, only a mild cough or, often, no symptoms.
• Fatigue.
• Weight loss.
• Cough, with occasional bloody sputum.
• Slight fever, night sweats.
• Pain in the chest, back or kidneys, and perhaps all three.

Who Gets It?

Anyone can get TB. People of all races and nationalities. The rich and poor. And at any age. But for many reasons, some groups of people are at higher risk to get active TB disease. The groups that are at high risk include:

•   People with HIV infection (the AIDS virus)      

•  People in close contact with those known to be infectious with TB

•  People with medical conditions that make the body less able to protect itself from disease (for example: diabetes, the dust disease silicosis, or people undergoing treatment with drugs that can suppress the immune system, such as long-term use of corticosteroids)

•  Foreign-born people from countries with high TB rates

• Some racial or ethnic minorities, such as American Indians

• People who work in or are residents of long-term care facilities (nursing homes, prisons, some hospitals)

• People who are mal-nourished

•  Alcoholics and IV drug users

TB: WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

 

• Find out if you're infected.
  

• Everyone should be skin tested at least once and know whether their test result is positive or negative. You should also be tested if there's any chance you have been infected, recently or many years ago.
  

• If the test is negative:
  

• A negative reaction usually means that you are not infected and no treatment is needed. Sometimes, however, when a person has only recently been infected, or when his or her immune system isn't working properly, the test may be falsely negative.
  

• If the test is positive:
  
  A positive reaction usually means that you have been infected with the TB germ. It does not necessarily mean that you have TB disease. Cooperate with the doctor when he or she recommends a chest X ray and possibly other tests.
  
  If the doctor recommends treatment to prevent sickness, follow the recommendations. If medicine is prescribed, be sure to take it as directed.
  
  If you don't need treatment, do what the doctor tells you to do about follow-up. The doctor may simply say to return for another checkup if you get into a special risk situation for TB sickness or develop symptoms.
  
  If you are sick with TB disease, follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment.
  

• If you're a health worker:
  
  Your local American Lung Association can provide you with more comprehensive information developed for health professionals on the diagnosis, treatment and control of TB.

Source: American Lung Association