Transcript Tuberculosis (TB) Facts

Tuberculosis (TB) Facts
Written By: Amanda Dukes, R.N.
What is TB?
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a
disease caused by
bacteria (Mycobacterium
tuberculosis) , the
bacteria usually attack
the lungs. But, TB
bacteria can attack any
part of the body such as
the kidney, spine, and
brain. If not treated
properly, TB disease can
be fatal
How is TB Spread?
• TB is spread through
the air from one person
to another. The primary
mode of transmission
for TB is inhalation.
When a person with
active TB disease of the
lungs or throat coughs
or sneezes, individuals
nearby may become
infected by breathing in
the bacteria.
Are there different types of TB?
• There are two types
of TB infections:
– 1. Active TB
– 2. Latent TB
• Active TB is very
contagious to others
• Latent TB does not
spread to others,
however the person is
infected with TB.
The Difference Between Latent TB
and Active TB
• A person with Latent TB:
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Has no symptoms
Does not feel sick
Cannot spread TB bacteria to others
Usually has a positive skin test
Has a normal chest x-ray and a negative
sputum smear
– Needs treatment for latent TB infection to
prevent active TB disease
The Difference Between Latent TB
and Active TB cont.
• A Person with Active TB:
– Has symptoms that may include: •
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a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
pain in the chest
coughing up blood or sputum
weakness or fatigue
weight loss
no appetite
chills
fever
sweating at night
Usually feels sick
– May Spread TB to others
– Usually has a positive skin test
– May have an abnormal chest x-ray or a
positive sputum smear or culture.
– Needs medical treatment
How is TB Diagnosed?
• Latent TB is often discovered when
you have a positive reaction to a
tuberculin skin test or blood test.
• Active TB is diagnosed by finding the
TB-causing bacteria in a sputum
sample (fluid from the lungs) or in
samples from other parts of the body.
Doctors sometime use a chest X-ray
to help diagnose active TB.
• Extrapulmonary TB (or TB found
outside the lungs) is diagnosed by a
biopsy and culture, CT scan, or MRI.
The TB Skin Test
• The Mantoux tuberculin skin test
(TST) is a method used to
determine if a person is infected
with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• You have a POSITIVE TB skin test
when you have a red bump
(raised/swollen area) at the needle
site.
– You need to have a skin test reaction
measured by a health professional
within 2 to 3 days after the test
Can Latent TB turn into Active TB?
• People who have latent TB are at risk of developing active TB if they:
– Have a condition or disease that weakens the immune system, such as human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, some cancers, or poorly controlled
diabetes.
– Have poor access to health care, such as homeless people, migrant farm
workers, or people who abuse alcohol or drugs.
– Take medications that contain corticosteroids for a long period of time.
– Have a condition that results in an impaired immune system, which can occur in
older adults, newborns, women who have recently given birth, or people who
have had an organ transplant and are taking medications to prevent organ
rejection.
– Have a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling sand-like dust (silicosis).
– Measure 10% or more under their healthy body weight
Prevent Latent TB from becoming
Active TB
• Usually, treatment with isoniazid for about 9 months or
rifampin for 6 months can prevent a latent TB infection
from developing into active TB.
• Treatment is recommended for anyone who has a
positive skin and is especially important for people
who:
• Are known to or are likely to be infected with the HIV.
• Have close contact with a person who has active TB.
• Have a chest X-ray that suggests a TB infection, and they have not
had a complete course of treatment.
• Inject illegal drugs.
• Have a medical condition or take medications that weaken the
immune system.
• Have had a tuberculin skin test within the past 2 years that was
negative but now have a positive test.
How is TB treated?
• Doctors generally use a combination of 4
antibiotics to treat active TB, whether it
occurs in the lungs or elsewhere.
– Medications for active TB must be taken for at
least 6 months. Almost all people who take
their medications as directed are cured.
– If tests continue to show positive results, treatment is
extended for 8 to 9 months. One antibiotic taken for 9
months is the usual treatment for latent TB. This prevents
the infection from becoming active and reduces the risk
of complications.
How is TB treated? cont.
• If you miss doses of medication or you
stop treatment too soon, your
treatment may go on longer or you
may have to start over. This can also
cause the infection to get worse or
lead to antibiotic-resistant infections
that are much harder to treat.
• A cure for TB requires you to take all
doses of the antibiotics. Direct
observational treatment ensures that
people follow medication instructions.
• If active TB is not treated, it can
damage the lungs or other organs and
can possibly cause death.
What increases your risk of getting
TB?
• People are at increased risk of infection with TB when
they:
– Have close contact with someone who has active TB, which can be
spread to others. Care for people who have untreated TB, such as health
professionals.
– Live or work in crowded conditions where they can come into contact with
people who may have active TB.
• This includes people who live or work in prisons, nursing homes, military
barracks, or homeless shelters.
– Travel to or from regions where untreated TB is common, such as Latin
America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia.
– Have poor access to health care, such as homeless people, migrant farm
workers, or people who abuse alcohol or drugs.
Decreasing your risk of getting TB?
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that one-third of the world's
population is infected with the bacteria
that causes TB.
• To avoid getting an active TB infection:
– Do not spend long periods of time in stuffy,
enclosed rooms with anyone who has active
TB until that person has been treated for at
least 2 weeks.
– Use protective measures, such as face masks,
if you work in a facility that cares for people
who have untreated TB.
– Ask your doctor how to prevent TB from
spreading to others if you live with someone
who has active TB. Help and encourage the
person who has TB to follow the treatment
instructions.
When to Call Your Doctor
• Call your doctor immediately if you have:
– Symptoms (such as an ongoing cough with fever,
fatigue, and weight loss) that could be caused by
TB.
– Been in close contact with someone who has
untreated active TB, which can be spread to others,
or you have had lengthy close contact with
someone you think has untreated active TB.
– Blurred vision or color blindness and are taking
ethambutol for TB.
– Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
(jaundice) or you have abdominal pain and you are
taking isoniazid or other medications for TB.
Home Treatment
• Home treatment for TB) focuses on taking the medications correctly to
reduce the risk of developing multidrug-resistant TB.
– Keep all medical your appointments, take your medications as prescribed, and
report any side effects of the medications, especially vision problems.
– If you plan to move during the time that you are being treated, let your health
professional know so that arrangements can be made for you to continue the
treatment.
• Home treatment includes:
– Eating a balanced diet to provide your body with the nutrients that you need to
fight the infection. If you need help, ask to talk with a registered dietitian.
– Covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
• Until you have been on antibiotics for about 2 weeks, you can easily spread the
disease to others. After coughing, dispose of the soiled tissue in a covered
container. Talk with your health professional about other precautions you can take
to prevent the spread of TB.
For More Information
• Visit the Texas Health and Human
Services:
– Website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/
– Phone number: (512) 458-7111 or 1-888-9637111
• Visit the Center for Disease Control
– Website: http://www.cdc.gov/
– Phone number: (800) 311-3435