Often when people hear the word “tuberculosis,” they think of a disease that caused harm decades ago. But tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, is still a very real problem in the United States and in Georgia where 335 new cases of TB were reported in 2014. In fact, Georgia ranked fifth highest in the country for newly reported TB cases in 2014.
In 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacteria that causes TB, one in seven people living in the United States and Europe died from the disease. Although we have come a long with advances in prevention and treatment, TB is still a public health threat.
TB is a disease that usually affects the lungs but can attack any part of the body. TB is caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air when a person with active TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. A relatively small number of people exposed to the disease actually contract the infection.
People with active TB disease may spread the TB germs to other persons who are usually
individuals with whom they have been with in an enclosed space for a prolonged period of time, such as family members and co-workers. An open air encounter or casual contact with a person with active TB disease, such as passing them in a hallway, generally does not put you at risk for being infected with TB.
Not everyone with TB becomes sick. If someone has active TB disease it means that he/she is sick with TB germs that are active in the body and they usually have symptoms including weight loss, fever, chronic cough, and night sweats. If someone has latent TB infection it means that he/she has TB germs in their bodies but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.
Symptoms of TB include:
– A bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer
– Pain in the chest
– Coughing up blood or sputum
– Weakness or fatigue
– Weight loss
– No appetite
– Chills
– Fever
– Sweating at night
It is important that anyone who thinks he or she has been exposed to TB to contact a healthcare provider or local health department to get tested. There is treatment for TB disease but left untreated, TB can be very serious and even fatal. Each year, World TB Day is recognized on March 24 and the theme of World TB Day 2016 is “End TB.” That’s a lofty goal but one that can be accomplished through education and prevention.
Find out more about TB and how you can prevent it.
TB General Information English [PDF, 436.83 KB]
TB General Information Spanish [PDF, 154.45 KB]
TB Facts & Prevention English [PDF, 357.17 KB]
TB Facts & Prevention Spanish [PDF, 185.94 KB]
[JPG, 78.14 KB]
