A person with TB infection only positive TB skin test but normal chest x-ray is not sick and is not contagious to others. TB medicine can help kill the bacteria and prevent the development of TB disease in the future. However, if a person with TB infection does not take preventive medicine, the bacteria may grow and cause active TB disease. TB symptoms may include a constant cough that lasts two or more weeks, chest pain, weakness, and loss of appetite.
When a person has active TB disease, the individual may be contagious and cause infection in other people, particularly those with whom they spend the most time. Someone with active TB disease will need to take several TB medicines for many months in order to become well and not infect others. If you have TB disease, in addition to spreading the disease to others, an untreated person may become severely ill or die. People who have been treated for TB infection or TB disease are able to become infected again.
Should children or others be excluded from child care, school, work or other activities if they have tuberculosis? People diagnosed with TB disease should isolated from the public until they have been determined by a doctor to no longer be infectious. This can occur within a few weeks of initiating therapy, however, infectious periods may vary.
People with TB infection who have been cleared of a TB disease diagnosis can participate in all activities whether they are receiving treatment or not. As always, respiratory etiquette is recommended.
People with TB disease should be excluded from school, day care or the work place until the sputum is negative about weeks after the beginning of treatment. All household and close contacts of a person with active TB disease should be screened using the TB skin test or TB blood test for evidence of infection.
All contacts with evidence of infection should be evaluated by a physician for disease. Routine screening of people who are at high-risk populations may help to diagnose TB infection. By treating TB infection, people can prevent the chance of developing TB disease and reduce the risk of infecting other people. What is tuberculosis? What is the difference between tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease?
Who is at risk for tuberculosis? TB affects people of all ages, races and income levels. Those at higher risk include the following:. The following are the most common symptoms of active TB. However, each person may experience symptoms differently:. The symptoms of TB may look like other lung conditions or medical problems. Talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
TB is often diagnosed with a skin test. In this test, a small amount of testing material is injected into the top layer of the skin.
If a certain size bump develops within 2 or 3 days, the test may be positive for tuberculosis infection. Other tests include X-rays and sputum tests. A blood test can be done in place of the TB skin test. If you will be spending time with a person or people with active TB, wear a face mask and try not to stay in a small enclosed space with poor ventilation. People who work in situations where there is a high risk for encountering people infected with TB, such as healthcare workers, should be tested for TB on a routine basis.
In countries outside the U. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. The following are the stages of TB: Exposure. This happens when a person has been in contact with, or exposed to, another person who has TB. This is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and others from tuberculosis.
When you stop treatment early or skip doses, TB bacteria have a chance to develop mutations that allow them to survive the most potent TB drugs. The resulting drug-resistant strains are deadlier and more difficult to treat. In countries where tuberculosis is more common, infants often are vaccinated with bacille Calmette-Guerin BCG vaccine. The BCG vaccine isn't recommended for general use in the United States because it isn't very effective in adults. Dozens of new TB vaccines are in various stages of development and testing.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Tuberculosis TB is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Basic TB facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Dec.
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