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Mantoux Tuberculosis Skin Test Facilitator GuideReturn to Mantoux TB Skin Test Facilitator Guide Main Page Introduction
An estimated 2 billion people, or one third of the world's population, are infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. One reason so many people are infected with TB is that it's spread through the air from one person to another. When someone with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, the bacteria are expelled into the air. If people nearby breathe in these bacteria, they can become infected, and usually the infection remains latent. In latent TB infection, the bacteria are made inactive by the body's immune system. The bacteria can remain inactive for many years, perhaps for life. Most people who become infected with TB don't get active TB disease. However, an infected person remains at risk of developing active TB disease at any time. The bacteria can become active and multiply, especially if the immune system becomes impaired. The bad news is, approximately 2 million people in the world die each year from active TB disease. The good news is, people who have latent TB infection can get treatment that will prevent the development of active TB disease. As a health care worker, you play an important role in controlling TB. Your knowledge and skills are valuable in accurately identifying people who have TB infection.
Last Reviewed: 05/18/2008 |
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If you would like to order any of the DTBE publications please visit the online order form. You will need Adobe Acrobat™ Reader v5.0 or higher to read pages that are in PDF format. Download the Adobe Acrobat™ Reader. If you have difficulty accessing any material on the DTBE Web site because of a disability, please contact us in writing or via telephone and we will work with you to make the information available. Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention |
