For example, TB infections usually spread between family members who live in the same house. It would be highly unlikely for you to become infected by sitting next to an infected person on, for instance, a bus or train. Not everyone with TB is infectious. Ultimately, untreated TB can be fatal, notes the Mayo Clinic.
While most people are able to tolerate the drugs well during treatment, TB medication can lead to some complications, as well. It can be hard on the liver. The following symptoms are considered serious side effects and should be reported to your doctor: 5,6, Improving your diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting regular exercise can also help your body recover and avoid adding extra strain on the liver.
In , 10 million people got sick from the disease and an estimated 1. Worldwide, tuberculosis is among the top 10 causes of death and it is a leading cause of death for people with an HIV infection. As mentioned above, certain health conditions increase the risk for TB. The risk of TB is 2 to 3 times greater in people with diabetes compared with those without diabetes.
And each condition can worsen the other, according to the WHO. There's also a risk involved with taking certain biologic drugs used to treat autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease an inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Biologic medication that suppresses the immune system can increase the possibility of activating latent TB, according to UpToDate. The CDC has a comprehensive site on tuberculosis, including everything from basic info about TB, to how TB affects certain populations, to the latest data and stats and research efforts.
The WHO offers an international perspective on tuberculosis, with data about the disease and the toll it takes worldwide. Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic provides an up-to-date review of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of TB, as well as info on which doctors treat the disease.
Curry International Tuberculosis Center. They provide educational resources to the general public and in-depth materials for healthcare professionals as well as those working with at-risk populations. American Lung Association. For clear, patient-centered information about TB, visit the American Lung Association which has a page on questions to ask your doctor if you're concerned about TB. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics.
Health Tools. Reviewed: April 27, Medically Reviewed. Instead, the infection may go through three stages: Primary TB Infection This is when the bacteria first enters your body.
In many people this causes no symptoms, but others may experience fever or pulmonary symptoms. Most people with a healthy immune system will not develop any symptoms of infection, but in some people the bacteria may grow and develop into an active disease. Risk factors for TB include: Poverty HIV infection Homelessness Being in jail or prison where close contact can spread infection Substance abuse Taking medication that weakens the immune system Kidney disease and diabetes Organ transplants Working in healthcare Air pollution Cancer Smoking tobacco Pregnancy Age, specifically babies, young children, and elderly people When active tuberculosis is diagnosed in the United States, it's often in a person who has emigrated from or traveled to a country with a much higher rate of TB.
Diagnostic tests used for TB include: 5,11 Sputum Samples Sputum is the mucus that comes up when you cough. Samples of sputum can be directly examined in a lab for M. Molecular Tests These can be used to detect the bacteria's genetic material and help identify which antibiotics will work best.
Biopsy A biopsy of the lungs, lymph nodes, or other tissues may be cultured to grow the bacteria and make it easier to see under a microscope. Some TB strains have also developed resistance to drugs less commonly used in TB treatment, such as the antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, and injectable medications including amikacin and capreomycin Capastat.
These medications are often used to treat infections that are resistant to the more commonly used drugs. A healthy immune system often successfully fights TB bacteria. However, several conditions and medications can weaken your immune system, including:.
Your risk of getting tuberculosis is higher if you live in, emigrate from or travel to areas with high tuberculosis rates. Areas include:. Without treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal. Untreated active disease typically affects your lungs, but it can affect other parts of your body, as well. If you test positive for latent TB infection, your doctor might advise you to take medications to reduce your risk of developing active tuberculosis.
Only active TB is contagious. If you have active TB , it generally takes a few weeks of treatment with TB medications before you're not contagious anymore. Follow these tips to help keep your friends and family from getting sick:. This is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and others from tuberculosis. When you stop treatment early or skip doses, TB bacteria have a chance to develop mutations that allow them to survive the most potent TB drugs.
The resulting drug-resistant strains are deadlier and more difficult to treat. In countries where tuberculosis is more common, infants often are vaccinated with bacille Calmette-Guerin BCG vaccine. The following are the most common symptoms of active TB. However, each person may experience symptoms differently:.
The symptoms of TB may look like other lung conditions or medical problems. Talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. TB is often diagnosed with a skin test. In this test, a small amount of testing material is injected into the top layer of the skin. If a certain size bump develops within 2 or 3 days, the test may be positive for tuberculosis infection. Other tests include X-rays and sputum tests. A blood test can be done in place of the TB skin test.
If you will be spending time with a person or people with active TB, wear a face mask and try not to stay in a small enclosed space with poor ventilation. People who work in situations where there is a high risk for encountering people infected with TB, such as healthcare workers, should be tested for TB on a routine basis. In countries outside the U. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. The following are the stages of TB: Exposure. This happens when a person has been in contact with, or exposed to, another person who has TB.
The exposed person will have a negative skin test, a normal chest X-ray, and no signs or symptoms of the disease. Latent TB infection.
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