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What
is TB?
TB,
or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by the TB bacteria (Mycobacterium
tuberculosis). The TB bacteria can attack any part of your
body, but they usually attack the lungs.
TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the
United States
How
is TB spread?
TB is spread through the air from one person to another.
The bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease
of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes.
People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
People with TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend
time with every day. This
includes family members, friends, and coworkers
Do
people infected with TB always have symptoms?
People who are newly infected with the TB bacteria do not feel sick, do
not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB.
But they may develop TB disease at some time in the future. To
prevent TB disease, people who have been infected with the TB bacteria
but are not yet sick can take medicine so that they will never develop
TB disease.
What
kind of symptoms do people with TB disease have?
Symptoms of TB depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing.
TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs.
TB in the lungs may cause
- a
bad cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks
- pain
in the chest
- coughing
up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
Other
symptoms of TB disease are:
- weakness
or fatigue
- weight
loss
- no
appetite
- Chills
- fever
- sweating
at night
Can
TB disease be cured?
People with TB disease can be treated and cured if they seek medical
help. Tuberculosis testing and health care is available on a sliding-fee
scale through neighborhood health centers and family care centers
throughout Westchester County.
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(CDC)