What is TB?
"TB" is short for a disease called tuberculosis.
TB is spread by tiny germs that can float in the air. The TB germs
may spray into the air if a person with TB disease of the
lungs or throat coughs, shouts, or sneezes. Anyone nearby can
breathe TB germs into the lungs.
TB germs can live in your body without making you
sick. This is called TB infection. Your immune system traps
TB germs with special germ fighters. Your germ fighters keep TB
germs from making you sick.
But sometimes, the TB germs can break away and spread.
Then they cause TB disease. The germs can attack the lungs
or other parts of the body. They can go to the kidneys, the brain,
or the spine. If people have TB disease, they need medical
help. If they don’t get help, they can die.
How do I know if I have TB infection?
A skin test is the only way to tell if you have
TB infection. The test is "positive" if a bump
about the size of a pencil eraser or bigger appears on your arm.
This bump means you probably have TB infection.
What should I do if I have TB infection?
If you have TB infection, you may need treatment
so you will not get TB disease later. This is called "preventive"
treatment. Isoniazid (INH) is the anti-TB drug used most often.
Unless you get preventive treatment, TB infection can turn
into TB disease. Those who are more likely to get sick
from TB disease include:
-
alcoholics or injection drug users;
-
people with certain medical conditions such
as diabetes, certain types of cancers, and being underweight;
and especially
-
people with HIV infection (the virus that causes
AIDS).
These things make your body weaker. When your body
is weaker, it can’t fight TB germs any more and TB infection
can turn into TB disease.
It is very important that your take your
preventive treatment as soon as your doctor recommends. It takes
at least six months to a year to kill all the TB germs. Remember,
you will always have TB germs in your body unless you kill
them with the right medicine.
