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Common Questions About TB
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (also known as TB) is a disease spread through air by a person with TB disease of the lung. Symptoms of TB may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever, night sweats, cough, chest pain, or coughing up blood. What is the difference between TB infection and TB disease?
People with TB disease are sick from active germs. They can often give the infection to others. People with TB infection are not sick because the germ that causes TB lies inactive in their body. They can not spread the germ to others.
How many people have tuberculosis?
Over 22,000 cases are reported each year in the United States. An estimated 10 to 15 million people in the United States are infected with the TB germ, with potential to develop TB disease in the future.
Who gets tuberculosis?
Anyone can get TB but some people are at higher risk. People considered high risk are those who:
- share the same breathing space with someone who has TB disease
- are foreign-born from countries where a lot of people have TB
- are in a group home or prison
- are poor, are homeless, or have medical conditions such as diabetes or certain types of cancers
- are underweight, or have HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS)
How can I tell if I have TB?
Get a skin test. If it is positive, you will probably have a chest x-ray and be asked to give a sputum sample to determine if you have TB infection or TB disease. For more information about TB call your local doctor, health department, or hospital. For further information about TB skin testing, read the next few questions. What is a Tuberculosis skin test?
A tuberculosis skin test will help to determine if a person is infected with tuberculosis.
Where can I get a TB skin test?
From your local doctor, from the local health department, or a hospital.
How is the test given?
A small needle is used to put tuberculin under the skin, usually on the inside of the arm. After the test, the person must return in 48 to 72 hours to be checked for a reaction. If there is a reaction the size of the reaction will be measured.
What if the test is negative?
A negative test usually means the person is not infected, however, the test may be falsely negative in a person who has been exposed very recently. It takes 2 to 10 weeks after exposure to TB for the skin test to react positive.
What if the test is positive?
A positive reaction usually means that the person has been infected with the TB germ. It does not necessarily mean the person has TB disease. An x-ray or sputum sample may be needed.
What should I do if I have TB infection or disease?
TB is easily prevented and cured with medication. Get follow up tests. Follow your doctor's or nurse's advice and take the medication as prescribed. For more information about TB, call your local doctor, health department, or hospital.
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