Tuberculosis (TB)

Minority Women's Health > Hispanic Americans/Latinas > Health Topics > Tuberculosis (TB)

• Resources in English
• Recursos en español

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that can affect any part of your body, but it usually attacks your lungs. TB is spread through the air. If someone with TB of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, people nearby who breathe in the bacteria can get TB. If your body can't stop the bacteria from growing, you will develop TB disease. If this happens and the TB is in the lungs, it can cause these symptoms:

• a bad cough that won't go away (with blood or phlegm)
• chest pain
• fatigue (feeling very tired)
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• chills
• fever
• night sweats

If you think you may have TB, see your doctor right away. TB can be treated and cured.

In 2005, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for one out of every four new cases of TB in the U.S. The TB rate in Hispanics/Latinos is about eight times higher than it is in whites. Minorities, including Hispanics/Latinos, tend to have more TB risk factors than whites. TB risk factors include lower economic status and HIV infection.

Resources in English

Publications

1.   Questions and Answers About TB (Tuberculosis) - This booklet gives thorough yet easy to understand explanations of Tuberculosis (TB), how it is spread, and discusses Latent TB Infection, and TB Disease, providing important information that patients need to know to prevent problems.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/default.htm

2. Translated Tuberculosis Educational Materials/Materiales Educativos Traducidos (Copyright © MDH) - These translated brochures discuss tuberculosis disease and infection, as well as tests for and treatment of tuberculosis. Translated materials are available in Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tibetan, and Vietnamese.

   http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/tb/factsheets/translations.html...

3. Tuberculosis Fact Sheet (Copyright © ALA) - This publication discusses the difference between TB infection and TB disease, symptoms of TB, modes of transmission, testing, and innovative treatment options.

   http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=34706&ct=67253

4. Tuberculosis: Racial/Ethnic Differences (Copyright © American Lung Association) - This publication gives information about the differences in the rates of tuberculosis among different race/ethnic groups.

   http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=3129431

Organizations

1.   CDC National Prevention Information Network
2.   Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, NCHSTP, CDC, OPHS, HHS
3.   National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, OPHS, HHS
4. American Association for Respiratory Care
5. American Lung Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Recursos en español

Publicaciones

1.   Tuberculosis pulmonar - Esta publicación ofrece información sobre la tuberculosis pulmonar, sus síntomas, tratamientos, prevención y grupos de apoyo.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/ency/article/000077.htm

2.   Tuberculosis: La conexión entre TB y VIH (el virus del SIDA) - Este folleto incluye informacion sobre el VIH y tuberculosis (TB). Explica lo que es la prueba de la tuberculina, y lo que uno debe hacer si tienes la infección tuberculosis.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/pamphlets/tbandhiv_esp.htm

3.   La tuberculosis: lo que debe saber - Esta página del Internet contiene información básica sobre la Tuberculosis (TB) y explica las diferencias entre la infección latente y la enfermedad de TB, cómo se trata, y otras consideraciones importantes.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/pamphlets/getthefacts_esp.htm

Organizaciones

1.   Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, HHS
2. American Lung Association en español

= Recurso Federal

Current as of December 2007