There has been concern in the past couple of days about tuberculosis after a student at a local university was diagnosed with it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis or TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine and brain. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal.
The disease can be spread through the air from one person to another when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
It’s also important be know the myths of spreading TB.
TB is NOT spread by:
- shaking someone’s hand
- sharing food or drink
- touching bed linens or toilet seats
- sharing toothbrushes
- kissing
Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and active TB disease.
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. People with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. The only sign of TB infection is a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test or special TB blood test. They are not infectious and can’t spread the disease.
Those with active TB disease have an immune system that was unable to stop the TB bacteria from growing.
Among the symptoms of TB are the following:
- a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- pain in the chest
- coughing up blood or sputum
- weakness or fatigue
- weight loss
- no appetite
- chills
- fever
- sweating at night
If you have concerns, be sure to share them with your physician.
