March 15, 2009
World Tuberculosis Day March 24
by Lori Pruitt, Infection Control
Tuberculosis, often called “TB,” is caused by germs spread through the air from person to person. It can affect different parts of the body, but infections are commonly seen in the lungs.
A check can be done to see if a person has been exposed to TB. This is called a PPD, or TB skin test. People with a positive TB skin test will have a hard, raised area where the test was placed. A positive result means the person has been exposed to the TB germ.
Most of the time people who get the TB germ do not develop the active disease. This is called latent TB. People with latent TB do not have symptoms and can not spread the germs to other people. They may be asked by their provider to take a medicine to make sure the TB germs are dead.
Sometimes people who are exposed may develop active TB. People with active TB in the lungs can spread it to other people through the air when they speak, cough, sneeze, or sing. Active TB can be treated and cured in most cases.
Medicines for TB work very well. Treatment with these medicines usually lasts a few months to make sure all the TB germs are killed.
Symptoms of people with active TB include a cough that last more than three weeks, with sputum that may or may not have blood in it, chest pain, night sweats, losing weight without trying, and feeling sick or weak.
Many people around the world are infected with TB and more become infected each day. People who have active TB and are not being treated put others at risk of getting the disease.
People most at risk of becoming infected with TB are those who spend more than four hours a day in a home or other small area with a person who has active TB of the lungs.
World TB Day helps us remember that each of us can do our part to help stop TB from spreading.
“We must all be proactive to keep our communities safe,” said Mary Berliner, Public Health Nurse in Bethel. Do you know or spend time with anyone who may have the symptoms of active TB? If so, talk with them and encourage them to get checked by their provider. This is a great step in helping us become healthier people!
