Tuberculosis (TB)

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Tuberculosis (TB)

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.

The number of TB cases in the U.S. has changed over the years. In 1993, most TB cases were seen in people born in the U.S. Over the years cases among people born in the U.S. dropped, while cases in people born outside the U.S. increased. Among people born in the U.S., African Americans have the highest rate of TB cases, compared to other groups. African Americans accounted for almost 45% of TB cases in the U.S.-born population and 19% of all TB cases.

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.   Stop TB in the African-American Community - This resource has been developed for people who have an interest in the topic of tuberculosis (TB) in the African-American community, and serves as a central repository for information related to this issue.

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

3.   Tuberculosis In Blacks - This publication offers statistics about tuberculosis (TB) infection in the African American community and explains the disparity among TB infection rates that exists within minority groups.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/WorldTBDay/resources_TB_Blacks.htm

4.     Tuberculosis: Getting Healthy, Staying Healthy - This is an easy to read fact sheet about how to know if you have tuberculosis and how your doctor will diagnose and treat it.

   http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/tuberculosis/Understanding/PDF/TB.pdf

5. American Lung Association Fact Sheet: African Americans and Lung Disease (Copyright © ALA) - This publication lists facts on the high rate of lung disease and lung cancer among the African American population. It includes statistics and discussions on factors that contribute to the disproportionately high rates of lung disease.

   http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35976

6. 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

Organizations

1.   CDC National Prevention Information Network
2.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS
3. American Association for Respiratory Care
4. American Lung Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007