Tuberculosis
- Topics
- Basic TB Facts
- Treatment
- Testing & Diagnosis
- TB & HIV Coinfection
- Infection Control & Prevention
- Drug-Resistant TB
- TB in Specific Populations
- African-American Community
- Correctional Facility Staff & Inmates
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Strengthen TB Information Systems and Program Assessment
- Strengthen TB Environmental Controls and Isolation Practices
- Provide More Comprehensive and Timely Screening and Diagnostic Evaluations
- Develop and Strengthen Contact Investigation Protocols
- Increase HIV Counseling and Testing
- Increase Staff Training
- Strengthen Collaboration Between Health Departments and Jails
- International Travelers
- Pregnancy
- Vaccines & Immunizations
- Laboratory Information
- Drug Susceptibility Testing
- High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- The Uses of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of TB
- Rapid Molecular Testing to Detect Drug-Resistant TB in the US
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Background on Tests for Molecular Detection of DR
- General Considerations and Principles for a Molecular DR Testing Service�
- Possible Scenarios and Scope of Testing for a Molecular DR Testing Service
- Research Needs
- General Recommendations of the Expert Panel
- Communication Plan for the Report
- Recommendations
- References
- Panel Members and CDC Participants
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
- Appendix 3
- Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidance for XDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains
- Research
- TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium
- Background
- Infrastructure
- Research Projects
- Publications
- Meetings
- Directory
- TBESC Committee Members
- Contact TBESC
- Prospective Evaluation of Immunogenetic and Immunologic Markers for Susceptibility to Tuberculosis Infection and Progression from M. Tuberculosisinfection to active TB
- Zero Tolerance for Pediatric TB
- Models for Incorporating HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral into Tuberculosis Contact Investigations
- Prevalence of Latent TB Infection Among High Risk Populations in the United States
- Regional Capacity-Building in Low-Incidence Areas
- Use of Network Analysis Methods to Characterize M. tuberculosis Transmission Patterns Among Women and Other High-Risk Populations
- An Analysis of Molecular Epidemiology of Multi-Drug Resistant M. tuberculosisin the United States
- Missed Opportunities for TB Prevention in Foreign-Born Population in the United States and Canada
- New Model for Assessing TB Surveillance and Action Performance and Cost
- Addressing TB Among African Americans in the Southeast: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Treatment Adherence for Latent TB Infection and TB Disease
- Assessing the TB Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices Among Private Providers Serving Foreign-born Populations at Risk for TB
- Factors Associated with Acceptance of, Adherence to and Toxicity From Treatment for Latent TB Infection and Pilot Study of Treatment for Latent TB Infection Effectiveness
- Culturally Appropriate TB Educational Materials for Leaders and Staff of Hispanic Service Organizations
- Enhancing TB Programs� Capacity for Self-Evaluation: Testing New Tools and Developing an Evaluation Toolkit
- African Refugee Women�s Health Improvement Project
- Evaluation of the TK Medium: A New Rapid Solid Culture System for Tuberculosis
- Evaluation of New Interferon-y Release Assays in the Diagnosis of Latent TB Infection in Health Care Workers
- TB Trials Consortium
- Behavioral & Social Science Research
- TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium
- Data & Statistics
- Education & Training
- Resources for TB Programs
- Publications & Products
- Fact Sheets
- General
- Fact sheets - Spanish
- TB - General Information
- The Difference Between Latent TB Infection and Active TB Disease
- A Global Perspective on TB
- Tuberculosis Information for Employers in Non-Healthcare Settings
- Tuberculosis Information for International Travelers
- TB Can Be Treated
- Exposure to TB
- TB and HIV/AIDS
- You Can Prevent TB
- Testing for TB
- Tuberculosis: informaci�n general
- Diferencia entre la infecci�n de tuberculosis latente y enfermedad de tuberculosis activa
- Informaci�n sobre la tuberculosis para los viajeros internacionales
- Exposición a la tuberculosis
- Usted puede prevenir la tuberculosis
- La tuberculosis puede ser tratada
- Tuberculosis y VIH/SIDA
- Usted puede prevenir la tuberculosis
- Pruebas para detectar la tuberculosis
- Data & Statistics
- A Global Perspective on TB
- Trends in Tuberculosis – United States
- The Revised Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis
- The National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP)
- National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP): Frequently Asked Questions
- TB Genotyping
- TB Genotyping Information Management System (TB-GIMS)
- Drug-Resistant TB
- Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB)
- Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)
- CDC’s Role in Preventing Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)
- Tuberculosis multirresistente (MDR)
- Tuberculosis extremadamente resistente (XDR)
- El papel de los CDC en la prevenci�n de la tuberculosis extremadamente resistente (XDR)
- Infection Control & Prevention
- TB in Specific Populations
- Tuberculosis Information for Employers in Non-Healthcare Settings
- Tuberculosis in Minorities
- Tuberculosis Information for International Travelers
- TB and HIV/AIDS
- Recommendations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening in Tuberculosis (TB) Clinics
- Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in HIV-Infected Persons
- Tuberculosis in Blacks
- Tuberculosis and Pregnancy
- Tuberculosis y embarazo
- Treatment
- TB Can Be Treated
- Treatment of Latent TB Infection
- Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: Maximizing Adherence
- Treatment Options for Latent Tuberculosis Infection
- Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
- Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in Persons Not Infected with HIV
- Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in HIV-Infected Persons
- Tratamiento de la infecci�n de tuberculosis latente
- Testing & Diagnosis
- TB Can Be Treated
- Testing for TB
- Recommendations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening in Tuberculosis (TB) Clinics
- QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Test
- Tuberculin Skin Testing
- Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Disease
- Targeted Tuberculin Testing and Interpreting Tuberculin Skin Test Results
- Prueba de QuantiFERON�-TB Gold
- Prueba cutánea de la tuberculina
- Diagnóstico de la tuberculosis activa
- Vaccines & Immunizations
- General
- Guidelines
- Guides & Toolkits
- Newsletters
- Pamphlets, Brochures, Booklets
- PDA Application
- Posters
- Reports & Articles
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)
- Contact Investigations
- Control and Elimination
- Data & Statistics
- Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
- Infection Control & Prevention
- Laboratory
- TB in Specific Populations
- Foreign-Born
- High-Risk Settings
- Homeless
- International
- Occupational Groups
- Travel
- TB & HIV
- Testing & Diagnosis
- Treatment
- LTBI Updates
- Vaccines & Immunizations
- World TB Day
- DTBE Authored Journal Articles
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)
- Slide Sets
- Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. TB in Health care Settings
- Investigation of Contacts of Persons with Infectious TB
- Text-Only version
- Introduction
- Decisions to Initiate a Contact Investigation
- Investigating the Index Patient and Sites of Transmission
- Assigning Priorities to Contacts
- Diagnostic and Public Health Evaluation of Contacts
- Medical Treatment for Contacts with LTBI
- When to Expand a Contact Investigation
- Communicating Through the News Media
- Data Management and Evaluation of Contact Investigations
- Confidentiality and Consent in Contact Investigations
- Staff Training for Contact Investigations
- Contact Investigations in Special Circumstances
- Source-Case Investigations
- Cultural Competency and Social Network Analysis
- Resources
- Epidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the United States
- Text-Only version
- Introduction
- Pediatric TB Cases by Age and Race
- Pediatric TB Cases by Origin of Birth
- Pediatric Cases, Percentages and Rates by States
- Pediatric TB Cases by Case Verification Criterion and Site of Disease
- Pediatric TB Cases in Specific Groups
- Pediatric TB Cases Case Completion
- Slide 1
- Slide 2
- Slide 3
- Slide 4
- Slide 5
- Slide 6
- Slide 7
- Slide 8
- Slide 9
- Slide 10
- Slide 11
- Slide 12
- Slide 13
- Slide 14
- Slide 15
- Slide 16
- Slide 17
- Slide 18
- Slide 19
- Slide 20
- Slide 21
- Slide 22
- Slide 23
- Slide 24
- Slide 25
- Slide 26
- Slide 27
- Slide 28
- Slide 29
- Slide 30
- Slide 31
- Treatment of TB
- Targeted Tuberculin Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection
- Videos, DVDs, CD Roms
- Podcasts
- Web-Based Courses & Webinars
- Fact Sheets
- Events
- Links
- About Us
- Mission Statement and Activities
- Organization Chart
- Advisory Groups
- Federal TB Task Force
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Chronology in the Development of This Report
- Strategies for Maintaining Control of TB
- Strategies for Accelerating the Decline of TB
- Activities for Developing New Tools
- Global U.S. Actions
- Assessing the Impact of Actions Taken
- Federal TB Task Force Members and Others Involved in the Development of This Report
- Glossary
- References
- Federal TB Task Force Roster
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- How to Eliminate TB? – The IOM Report
- Why Eliminate TB? – Rationale for Elimination
- Who Will Lead? – CDC's Response
- Goal I: Maintain control of TB
- Goal II: Accelerate the decline
- Goal III: Create new tools
- Goal IV: Reduce the global burden of TB
- Goal V: Summon and sustain support
- Goal VI: Track progress
- References
- Federal TB Task Force
- Funding
Tuberculosis - Get the Facts!
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that usually affects the lungs. TB sometimes affects other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. TB disease can cause death if untreated.
How is TB spread?
TB germs are spread from person to person through the air. TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, or sings. TB is NOT spread by sharing silverware or cups, or sharing saliva when kissing someone.
What are the symptoms of TB?
People with TB disease often feel weak or sick, lose weight, have fever, and have night sweats. If their TB disease is in the lungs, they may also cough and have chest pain, and they might cough up blood. Other symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected.
What is the difference between TB disease and TB infection?
People with TB disease are sick from the large number of TB germs that are active in their body. They usually have one or more of the symptoms of TB disease. These people may pass the TB germs to others. TB disease can cause permanent body damage and death. Medicines which can cure TB disease are given to these people.
People with TB infection also have the germs that cause TB in their body. But they are not sick because there are not as many of the germs, and the germs lie dormant (sleeping) in their body. They cannot spread the germs to others. However, these people could develop TB disease in the future, especially if they are in one of the high-risk groups listed under "Who gets TB disease?" People with TB infection can take medicine to prevent them from developing TB disease.
Who gets TB disease?
Once a person has TB infection, he or she has a higher chance of getting TB disease if the person
- Has HIV infection
- Has been recently infected with TB germs (in the last 2 years)
- Has other health problems, like diabetes, that make it hard for the body to fight germs
- Uses alcohol or injects illegal drugs
- Was not treated correctly for TB infection in the past
How can I tell if I have TB?
Get a TB skin test or the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) blood test. If you have a positive reaction to either of the tests, you will probably be given other tests to see if you have TB infection or TB disease.
Where can I get a TB skin test or QFT?
You can get a TB skin test from your doctor or local health department. You may be able to get the QFT at your local health department.
How are the TB tests given?
For a TB skin test, a health care worker uses a small needle to put some testing material, called tuberculin, just under your skin. This is usually done on the lower inside part of your arm. After you get the test, you must return in 2 to 3 days to see if there is a reaction to the test. If there is a reaction, the size of the reaction is measured.
If your health department does offer the QFT, some of your blood is taken for the test. You will be instructed on how to get the results of your test.
What if the test is negative?
A negative skin test usually means you are not infected. However, the test may be falsely negative if you were infected recently. It usually takes 2 to 10 weeks after exposure to a person with TB disease for your skin test to react as positive. The test may also be falsely negative if your immune system is not working properly.
A negative QFT usually means you are not infected.
What if the test is positive?
A positive skin test or QFT usually means that you have been infected with the TB germ. It does not necessarily mean that you have TB disease. Other tests, such as an x-ray or sputum sample, are needed to see if you have TB disease.
What if I had the BCG vaccine?
BCG is a vaccine for TB. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States, but it is often given to infants and small children in other countries where TB is common. The BCG vaccine does not usually protect adults against TB. You may still get TB infection or TB disease. Even if you have had the BCG vaccine, you will need a TB skin test or QFT to see if you may have TB infection or TB disease.
What should I do if I have TB infection or TB disease?
Get the required follow-up tests. Follow your doctor’s advice and take the medicine as prescribed. Today, both TB infection and TB disease can be treated and cured with medication.
For more information on TB or to get a TB Skin test, call your doctor or local health department.
For further information on TB visit:
CDC Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
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Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE)
1600 Clifton Rd., NE
MS E10
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
24 Hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov