TUBERCULOSIS FACTS

What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from one person to another through the air. It usually affects the lungs, but can also cause infection in other parts of the body. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB of the lung or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs or sings. If another person breathes in these bacteria there is a chance they will become infected with tuberculosis. Not everyone infected with the bacteria will develop TB disease because their body's natural defenses will protect them.

What is the difference between TB infection and TB disease?
The term TB infection means that a person has the bacteria in their body, but the germs are being kept inactive by the body. They do not have symptoms of disease and cannot spread the bacteria to others. These people may develop active disease at a later time, if something happens which makes the body less able to protect itself. Medication is often prescribed for these people to prevent them from developing disease.
People with TB disease are sick with bacteria that are active in their body. Most people with active disease have one or more of the symptoms of TB. The symptoms could include feeling weak, weight loss, persistent cough, chest pain, loss of appetite, night sweats, and /or coughing up blood. Other symptoms can occur when the disease happens in a part of the body other than the lungs. Someone with TB disease can spread it to others. Medicines which can cure the disease are prescribed for these people.

How many cases are there?
8 million new cases occur each year in the world.
22,000 are reported each year in the United States.
10 to 15 million people in the U.S. are estimated to be infected with the TB germ.

Should I get a TB skin test each year to check on TB?
This should be done only for those who are at high risk for getting TB. High risk categories include:

• People who share the same breathing space with someone known to have active TB disease
• People with HIV infection (the AIDS virus)
• Homeless people
• People who are underfed
• People with medical conditions that make the body less able to protect itself from disease
• Alcoholics and intravenous drug users
• Nursing home residents
• Prisoners
• Foreign-born people from countries with high TB rates
• Some racial and ethnic minorities

Some people get skin tests because their jobs require it-(a school or hospital for example - to make sure they will not infect others if they have TB.) If you fall into a high risk category for TB or if you have never had a skin test before, or if there is no record of a previous test, you should be tested. If you are not sure ask your doctor.

The American Lung Association and the Centers for Disease Control will provide additional information about TB.