Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is tuberculosis? Tuberculosis is either latent or active. Latent TB means that you have the TB bacteria in your body, but your body's defences immune system are keeping it from turning into active TB.
This means that you don't have any symptoms of TB right now and can't spread the disease to others. If you have latent TB, it can become active TB. Active TB means that the TB bacteria are growing and causing symptoms. If your lungs are infected with active TB, it is easy to spread the disease to others. How is TB spread to others?
Who is most at risk for TB? This includes people who: Have HIV or another illness that weakens the immune system. Have close contact with someone who has active TB, such as living in the same house as someone who is infected with TB. Care for a patient who has active TB, such as doctors or nurses. Live or work in crowded places, such as prisons, nursing homes, or homeless shelters, where other people may have active TB.
Have poor access to health care, such as homeless people and migrant farm workers. Misuse of drugs or alcohol. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of active TB may include: A cough that brings up thick, cloudy, and sometimes bloody mucus from the lungs called sputum for more than 2 weeks.
Tiredness and weight loss. Night sweats and a fever. A rapid heartbeat. Swelling in the neck when lymph nodes in the neck are infected. Shortness of breath and chest pain in rare cases. How is TB diagnosed? How is it treated? Cause Tuberculosis TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis , slow-growing bacteria that thrive in areas of the body that are rich in blood and oxygen, such as the lungs.
Symptoms If you have latent tuberculosis TB , you do not have symptoms and cannot spread the disease to others. Symptoms of active TB in the lungs Symptoms of active TB in the lungs begin gradually and develop over a period of weeks or months. Common symptoms include: A cough with thick, cloudy, and sometimes bloody mucus from the lungs sputum for more than 2 weeks.
Fever, chills, and night sweats. Fatigue and weakness. Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss. Shortness of breath and chest pain. Symptoms of active TB outside the lungs Symptoms of TB outside the lungs extrapulmonary TB vary widely depending on which area of the body is infected.
What Happens Tuberculosis TB develops when Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria are inhaled into the lungs. Without treatment, active TB can cause serious complications, such as: Pockets or cavities that form in the lungs. These damaged areas may cause bleeding in the lungs or may become infected with other bacteria and form pockets of pus abscesses. A hole that forms between nearby airways in the lungs. Difficulty breathing because of blocked airways. TB can be fatal if it is not treated.
Active TB outside the lungs Active TB in parts of the body other than the lungs extrapulmonary TB is not spread easily to other people. What Increases Your Risk People are at increased risk of infection with tuberculosis TB when they: Have close contact such as living in the same house with someone who has active TB, which can be spread to others.
Active TB is very contagious. Are health professionals who may care for people with untreated TB. Live or work in crowded conditions where they can come into contact with people who may have untreated active TB. This includes people who live or work in prisons, nursing homes, military barracks, or homeless shelters. Have poor access to health care, such as homeless people, migrant farm workers, or people who abuse alcohol or drugs.
People who have an infection that cannot spread to others latent TB infection are at risk of developing active TB if they: Have an impaired immune system. The immune system may be weakened in older adults, newborns, women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, and people who have HIV infection, some cancers, or poorly controlled diabetes. Take some types of medicines, such as long-term corticosteroids , biologics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease , or medicines to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ.
Have a chronic lung disease caused by breathing in tiny sand or silica particles silicosis or celiac disease. When should you call your doctor? Call your doctor immediately if you have: Symptoms such as a cough that may produce bloody mucus along with fever, fatigue, and weight loss that could be caused by tuberculosis TB. Been in close contact with someone who has untreated active TB, which can be spread to others, or you have had lengthy close contact with someone you think has untreated active TB.
Blurred vision or changes in how you see colours and are taking ethambutol for TB. Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes jaundice or you have abdominal pain and you are taking isoniazid or other medicines for TB. Call your doctor if you: Have recently had a TB skin test and you have a red bump at the needle site. You need to have a reaction measured by a health professional within 2 to 3 days after the test.
This measurement is important in deciding whether you need more tests or treatment. Have been exposed to someone who has active TB. Who to see Your family doctor or general practitioner can help you find out if you have tuberculosis TB.
For treatment of active TB, which can be spread to others, or to treat complications of TB, you may be referred to: Your local public health unit. A respirologist , a doctor who specializes in treating lung problems. An infectious disease specialist. Examinations and Tests Diagnosing active TB in the lungs Doctors diagnose active tuberculosis TB in the lungs pulmonary TB by using a medical history and physical examination, and by checking your symptoms such as an ongoing cough, fatigue, fever, or night sweats.
Doctors will also look at the results of a: Sputum culture. Testing mucus from the lungs sputum culture is the best way to diagnose active TB. But a sputum culture can take 1 to 8 weeks to provide results. Sputum cytology. Chest X-ray. Symptoms of active TB, such as a persistent cough, fatigue, fever, or night sweats. An uncertain reaction to the tuberculin skin test because of a weakened immune system , or to a previous bacille Calmette-Guerin BCG vaccination.
Rapid sputum test. This test can provide results within 24 hours. Diagnosing latent TB in the lungs A tuberculin skin test will show if you have ever had a TB infection. See a picture of a tuberculin skin test.
Rapid blood tests help detect latent TB. A rapid test requires only one visit to the doctor or clinic, instead of two visits as required for the tuberculin skin test.
Rapid blood tests are also called interferon-gamma release assays IGRAs. Tests include: Biopsy. A sample of the affected area is taken out and sent to a lab to look for TB-causing bacteria. Urine culture. This test looks for TB infection in the kidneys renal TB. Lumbar puncture. A sample of fluid around the spine is taken to look for a TB infection in the brain TB meningitis.
CT scan. This test is used to diagnose TB that has spread throughout the body miliary TB and to detect lung cavities caused by TB. This test looks for TB in the brain or the spine. Tests during TB treatment During treatment, a sputum culture is done once a month—or more often—to make sure that the antibiotics are working. These tests may include: Liver function tests. Eye tests, especially if you are taking ethambutol for TB treatment.
Hearing tests, especially if you are taking streptomycin for TB treatment. Early detection Public health officials encourage screening for people who are at risk for getting TB. Treatment for active tuberculosis Health experts recommend: footnote 7 footnote 4 Using more than one medicine to prevent multidrug-resistant TB.
The standard treatment begins with four medicines given for 2 months. Continuing treatment for 4 to 9 months or longer if needed. The number of medicines used during this time depends on the results of sensitivity testing. Using directly observed therapy DOT. This means visits with a health professional who watches you every time you take your medicine.
A cure for TB requires you to take all doses of the antibiotics. These visits ensure that people follow medicine instructions, which is helpful because of the long treatment course for TB.
Trying a different combination of medicines if the treatment is not working because of drug resistance when tests show that TB-causing bacteria are still active.
Using different treatment programs for people infected with HIV, people infected with TB bacteria that are resistant to one or more medicines, pregnant women, and children. Treatment for latent tuberculosis Experts recommend one of the following: Using one medicine to kill the TB bacteria and prevent active TB. The standard treatment is isoniazid taken for 9 months. For people who cannot take isoniazid for 9 months, sometimes a 6-month treatment program is done.
This is an acceptable alternate treatment, especially for people who have been exposed to bacteria that are resistant to isoniazid. Have close contact with a person who has active TB. Have a chest X-ray that suggests a TB infection and have not had a complete course of treatment.
Inject illegal drugs. Have medical conditions or take medicines that weaken the immune system. Have had a tuberculin skin test within the past 2 years that did not show a TB infection but now a new test points to an infection.
Treatment for extrapulmonary tuberculosis Treatment for tuberculosis in parts of the body other than the lungs extrapulmonary TB usually is the same as for pulmonary TB. You may need treatment in a hospital if you have: Severe symptoms. Hispanic or Latino Persons.
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Cancel Continue. 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. These medications are often used to treat infections that are resistant to the more commonly used drugs. A healthy immune system often successfully fights TB bacteria. However, several conditions and medications can weaken your immune system, including:.
Your risk of getting tuberculosis is higher if you live in, emigrate from or travel to areas with high tuberculosis rates. Areas include:. Without treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal. Untreated active disease typically affects your lungs, but it can affect other parts of your body, as well. If you test positive for latent TB infection, your doctor might advise you to take medications to reduce your risk of developing active tuberculosis.
Only active TB is contagious.
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