Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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▪ Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB)
Q: What is TB?
A: TB, or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by bacteria called
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of your
body, but usually attack the lungs. TB, once the leading cause of
death
in the united States, is still a problem with more than 16,000
cases
reported in 2000 in the United States.
TB is spread through the air from one person to another when a person
with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People
nearby
may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
Latent TB: Many times the bacteria stay in the lung surrounded by
calcification for many years but do not cause disease. This
is called
latent TB. People who are infected but not with disease do not feel
sick
and cannot spread TB.
However, they may get
sick at some time in the future especially if they
have weak immune
systems. Babies, young children and the elderly
often have weak immune
systems. People with HIV infection, AIDS,
substance abuse, diabetes,
cancers, severe kidney disease, silicosis, low
body weight or
treatments with corticosteroids also have weak immune
systems.
TB infection is detected by a skin test. People who test “positive”
may
take medicine so they don’t come down with the disease later on.
The medicine usually used for the treatment of latent TB infection is
a
drug called isoniazid or INH. INH kills the TB bacteria that are in
the body. If you take your medicine as prescribed, treatment for
latent
TB infection will keep you from ever developing TB disease.
Most people must take INH for at least 6 to 9 months. Children and
people with HIV infection may need to take INH for a longer time. It
is
important that you take all the pills prescribed for you so that
your
treatment for latent TB infection is effective.
People with TB disease can be treated and cured if they seek medical
help.
The disease can be treated with several drugs taken for several
months
to a year.
See a doctor immediately if you have these symptoms:
▪ a bad cough that
has lasted for more than 2 weeks,
▪ pain in the chest
▪ coughing up blood
or sputum
▪ weakness or
fatigue
▪ weight loss
▪ no appetite
▪ chills, fever,
▪ sweating at night
The most common drugs
used to fight TB are:
▪ isoniazid (INH)
▪ rifampin
▪ pyrazinamide
▪ ethambutol
▪ streptomycin
TB bacteria die very
slowly. It takes at least 6 months for the medicine
to kill all the TB
bacteria. You will probably start feeling well after only
a few weeks
of treatment. But beware! The TB bacteria are still alive
in your body. You must continue to take your medicine until all the TB
bacteria are dead, even though you may feel better and have no
more
symptoms of TB disease.
If you don't continue
taking your medicine or you aren't taking your
medicine regularly,
this can be very dangerous. The TB bacteria will
grow again and you
will remain sick for a longer time. The bacteria may
also become
resistant to the drugs you are taking, (multidrug-resistant
TB (MDR
TB) you may need new, different drugs to kill the TB bacteria
if the
old drugs no longer work. These new drugs must be taken for a
longer
time and usually have more serious side effects.
If you become
infectious again, you could give TB bacteria to your
family, friends,
or anyone else who spends time with you. It is very
important to take
your medicine the way your doctor or nurse tells you.
San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency
Public Health Department
439 Fourth Street
Hollister, CA 95023
(831) 637-5367
Fax: (831) 637-9073
© 2007 San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency Public Health Division, All Rights Reserved