Also, see your doctor if you think you've been exposed to TB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who have an increased risk of tuberculosis be screened for latent TB infection. This recommendation includes people who:. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings.
Although tuberculosis is contagious, it's not easy to catch. You're much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you live or work with than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious. HIV suppresses the immune system, making it difficult for the body to control TB bacteria. Tuberculosis also remains a major killer because of the increase in drug-resistant strains.
Over time, some TB germs have developed the ability to survive despite medications. This is partly because people don't take their drugs as directed or don't complete the course of treatment. Drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis emerge when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria it targets.
The surviving bacteria become resistant to that drug and often other antibiotics as well. Some TB bacteria have developed resistance to the most commonly used treatments, such as isoniazid and rifampin Rifadin, Rimactane. Some TB strains have also developed resistance to drugs less commonly used in TB treatment, such as the antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, and injectable medications including amikacin and capreomycin Capastat. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Tuberculosis TB. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. How TB Spreads. Minus Related Pages. Section Menu. What Are the Symptoms of TB? Symptoms of active TB include: A cough that lasts more than three weeks Loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss Fever Chills Night sweats You may experience other symptoms related to the function of a specific organ or system that is affected.
How Is TB Diagnosed? If your doctor suspects TB, they may order a skin or blood test. When to See Your Doctor A person who suspects that they may have TB should get tested by their doctor or the health department as soon as possible. Previous: Learn About Tuberculosis. Next: Treating and Managing Tuberculosis. Make a Donation Your tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more.
Make a Donation. TB is caused by bacteria. The bacteria spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria enter the air when a person with active TB in the throat or lungs talks, laughs, sneezes, or coughs. Anyone who is nearby can then breathe in that air and breathe in the bacteria. Then they become infected. Once you breathe in the bacteria, they settle in your lungs and begin to grow.
Sometimes the bacteria move from the lungs to other areas of the body. This could include the kidneys, spine, and brain. This means you can spread the disease to other people. Usually, you have to be in close contact with someone who has active TB. You need to be around them for an extended period of time. TB tends to be spread between family members, close friends, and people who live or work together.
This could include:. The most commonly used method to check for tuberculosis is a skin test. Blood tests can also be used. If you have a positive skin test or blood test, it means you have been exposed to a person who has tuberculosis. You have been infected with the bacteria that cause the disease. If your skin test is positive, you will likely have a chest X-ray and a physical exam. This will tell your doctor which kind of TB you have. Usually, a person can be infected with the bacteria that cause TB but not actually have active tuberculosis.
The best way to prevent getting a tuberculosis infection is to avoid being in close contact with a person who has active TB disease. There is a vaccine against tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is treated with antibiotic medicine. The medicine s your doctor recommends will depend on many factors. These include your age, your health, whether your TB is active or latent, and whether your TB is drug resistant. You will need to take your TB medicine s for months.
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