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Tuberculosis Information
Health Department staff provide consultation, testing, referrals and medication to patients. |
{Tuberculin Skin Test} |
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
TB is a disease that is spread by tiny germs that can float in the air. The TB germs may spray into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, sings, or talks. Anyone nearby can breathe TB germs into their lungs. You cannot get TB from someone’s clothes, drinking glass, handshake or toilet.
TB germs can live in your body without making you sick. This is called TB infection. Your immune system traps TB germs with special germ fighters. Your germ fighters keep TB germs from making you sick. But sometimes, the TB germs can break away and spread. Then they cause TB disease. The germs can attack the lungs or other parts of the body. They can go to the kidneys, the brain or the spine. If anyone has TB disease, they need medical help. If they don’t get help, they can die.
What are the symptoms of TB?
General symptoms may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever and/or night sweats. Symptoms of TB of the lungs may include coughing, chest pain and/or coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on the particular part of the body that is affected.
How do I know if I have TB infection?
A skin test is the only way to tell if you have TB infection.This test is usually done on the arm. A small needle is used to put some testing material, called turberculin, under the skin. In two or three days, a health worker will check to see if there is a reaction to the test. The test is "positive" if a bump about the size of a pencil eraser or bigger appears on the arm. The bump means a person probably has TB infection. It does not necessarily mean that a person has TB disease. A chest x-ray is recommended as well as medicine to keep from getting sick.
What happens if the test is negative?
If the test is "negative," it usually means a person is not infected. However, the test may be falsely negative in a person who has recently been infected. It usually takes two to 10 weeks after exposure to a person with TB disease for the skin test to react positive. The test may also be falsely negative if the person’s immune system is not working properly. A second test is recommended, just to be sure.
