What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  The bacteria usually attack the lungs, though TB bacteria can affect other parts of the body, including the kidney, spine, and brain.  If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. In fact, TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States.

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. When individuals infected with TB of the lungs or throat cough or sneeze, they release bacteria into the air, and people nearby who breathe in the bacteria can become infected.

What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?

Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. Some individuals exposed to the bacteria develop latent TB infection; they do not feel sick, do not have symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. Some people with latent TB infection, however, later develop active TB infection.

Symptoms of active TB infection depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing.  TB in the lungs may cause the following symptoms: a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs).

Other symptoms of active TB disease include: weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, chills, fever and night sweats.

Individuals both with latent and with active TB disease usually test positive on routine tuberculin skin tests. To distinguish between latent and active TB cases, doctors will usually conduct chest x-rays and sputum tests on individuals who have positive skin tests. Individuals with latent TB will have normal chest x-rays and negative sputum tests, while those with active TB tend to have abnormal chest x-rays and positive sputum tests. 

How common is tuberculosis in Montgomery County?

The Montgomery County Health Department recorded 11 cases of active TB in 2003. Nine cases were reported in 2004 and 14 in 2005.

How is tuberculosis treated?

Several decades ago, TB was a serious and often fatal disease. In this day and age, however, TB can almost always be treated and cured.

Individuals diagnosed with latent TB infection can take medicine so that they will not develop active TB disease, and patients who already have active TB can be treated and cured if they seek medical help. 
The most common medicines used to cure TB include Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol and Pyrazinamide, and people who have TB must take the medicine the doctor prescribes in the order he or she dictates.
TB patients must take several medications, because there are many bacteria to be killed. Taking several medications will do a better job of killing all of the bacteria and preventing them from becoming resistant to the medicines.

How can I manage TB correctly?

If you think you have TB, see your doctor as soon as possible so you can start taking the proper medication. Sometimes the medicine has side effects, so, if you have symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
Remember that you must all the medication prescribed, even when you feel better. it takes at least 6 months for the medicine to kill all the TB bacteria, and if you don't finish your medication, the bacteria will grow again and make you sick for a longer time. 

How can I keep from spreading tuberculosis?

The most important way to keep from spreading TB is to take all your medicine, exactly as directed by your doctor.  You also need to keep all of your clinic appointments! Your doctor or nurse needs to see how you are doing.  You may need another chest x-ray or a test of the phlegm you may cough up. These tests will show whether the medicine is working.  They will also show whether you can still give TB bacteria to others. Be sure to tell the doctor about anything you think is wrong.

If you are infectious while you are at home, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself and others near you. 
The following guidelines can help you protect yourself and others:

• Always cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Put the tissue in a closed bag and throw it away.
  
• Do not go to work or school. Separate yourself from others and avoid close contact with anyone. Sleep in a bedroom away from other family members.
  
• Air out your room often to the outside of the building. TB spreads in small closed spaces where air doesn't move.
  Remember, TB is spread through the air.  People cannot get infected with TB bacteria through handshakes, sitting on toilet seats, or sharing dishes and utensils with someone who has TB.
  

To find out more about Tuberculosis, check out the Centers for Disease Control's TB web site, http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/default.htm, or contact your doctor.