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Tuberculosis
- What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that can attack any part of your
body. It usually affects the lungs, but can affect lymph nodes, kidneys,
bones, joints, and other parts of the body.
How is it spread?
Tuberculosis is spread person to person through air. When an infected
person who is not taking tuberculosis medication coughs or sneezes, the
bacteria get into the air. Prolonged exposure is normally necessary for
infection to occur.
Who gets tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis can affect anyone. People infected with the HIV virus,
AIDS patients, persons with weakened immune systems, and the elderly are
at increased risk. Other medical risks include: diabetes mellitus,
prolonged corticosteroid therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, cancer,
silicosis and being 10 percent or more below ideal body weight.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and a
persistent cough. Some people who are infected may not have symptoms.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Most people infected with TB never develop active disease. If active
TB does develop, it may occur two to three months after infection or
years later.
When is an infected person contagious?
A person with active TB may remain contagious until he/she has been on
appropriate treatment for several weeks. However, a person with TB
infection who does not have symptoms of the disease cannot spread the
infection to others.
What is the treatment for tuberculosis?
People infected with TB should be evaluated for preventive therapy,
which includes taking medication for 9 months. The exact preventive therapy
plan must be determined by a physician. People with active TB must
complete a course of curative therapy. Treatment includes an initial 2
month phase followed by a continuing phase. Medications may be altered
based on laboratory test results. The exact medication plan must be
determined by a physician.
What if a person isn’t treated?
An untreated person will spread the disease to others and may become
severely ill or die.
What is the difference between active tuberculosis and TB infection?
Infection may result after close contact with a person who has active
pulmonary tuberculosis. A person with TB infection does not feel sick or
have any symptoms, but they may develop the disease at a later date.
Tuberculosis infection may last a lifetime, never developing into disease. The disease is characterized by appearance of symptoms.
In order to spread the disease a person must have active pulmonary TB.
How common is it in Washington?
In 2002, Washington State reported 252 cases of tuberculosis for a case
rate of 4.4 per 100,000 persons. Twenty-two of 39 counties had at least
one new case of TB. The five highest county-specific incidence rates were
King, Yakima, Clark, Kitsap, and Snohomish.
What is multiple drug resistant tuberculosis ( MDR-TB)?
- When patients fail to take TB medications as prescribed, the bacteria
can become resistant to treatment. People who have been exposed to a
case of drug-resistant TB, especially if they have a weakened immune
system, are at high risk for MDR-TB.
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How common is multiple drug resistant tuberculosis?
Although this is a serious threat that is causing problems in other
parts of the nation and the world, it is not a major problem in
Washington.
What is the treatment for multiple drug resistant tuberculosis?
Advice from a TB specialist is necessary when treating drug resistant
TB. It is unknown whether preventive therapy can prevent the development
of active TB disease in people who are infected with drug-resistant TB
strains.
What can be done to prevent the spread of tuberculosis?
The most important way to stop the spread of tuberculosis is to cover
the mouth and nose when coughing, and to take all TB medicine exactly as
prescribed by a physician. Educating TB patients, providing adequate
treatment for people with drug-resistant TB and providing directly
observed administration of anti tuberculosis medications is valuable in
preventing the further spread of the disease as well.
Where can I get more information?
Call the State TB program (360) 236-3447.
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