TB

This fact sheet presents basic facts about TB. It explains the difference between latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease, TB transmission, symptoms of TB disease, skin testing procedures, the TB blood test, the chest X-ray, and the sputum test. The information sheet also discusses the medical treatments available for TB, including preventive treatment for persons with LTBI. It emphasizes the importance of finishing all TB medicine and taking the drugs exactly as prescribed to prevent the TB germs from reappearing and becoming resistant to the drugs.

This fact sheet discusses TB and how it is affected by the HIV. It defines TB and explains the difference between TB infection and latent TB infection. The fact sheet advises that HIV weakens the immune system increasing the chance that in people with HIV and latent TB, the TB germs will become active and attack the body causing TB disease. It emphasizes the importance of TB treatment and taking the TB drugs as prescribed.

Using a question and answer format, this fact sheet provides general information on TB prevention. It discusses TB transmission, infection, disease, diagnosis through a skin test or a special TB blood test, and treatment. It explains that TB is spread by germs that are in the air after someone with TB disease sneezes, coughs, speaks, laughs, or sings. TB germs can live in the body without making the individual sick. This is called latent TB infection. If the germs become active, they cause TB disease. An individual who has been exposed to TB germs will be given a TB skin test.

The website contains information on the global TB epidemic. The website also provides access to TB resources, including videos, social media tools, and fact sheets.

This information sheet discusses the bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine for TB, which is used in many countries to prevent childhood tuberculous meningitis and miliary TB. It explains why the BCG is not generally recommended for use in the United States; suggests that the BCG should be considered under specific circumstances; and provides recommendations for when the BCG should be used with children and health care workers, and contraindications when it should not be used, such as for immunosuppressed persons and pregnant women.

This information sheet discusses multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB), a strain of TB that is resistant to at least two of the best anti-TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. It describes TB disease, MDR TB, extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB), TB transmission, how drug resistance happens, and who is at risk for getting MDR TB. The information sheet also explains how MDR TB can be prevented, TB vaccine, the symptoms of TB disease, and what an individual should do after being exposed to someone with TB.

This information sheet discusses infection control measures for health care settings to ensure prompt detection, take airborne precautions, and treat persons with suspected or diagnosed tuberculosis infection. It suggests that policies and procedures for TB control should be developed, reviewed periodically, and evaluated to minimize transmission risk.

This information sheet discusses TB and the risk for international travelers. It explains TB transmission, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of the disease, and how drug resistance occurs. The information sheet considers whether international travelers are at risk of MDR or XDR TB while traveling, the risk of acquiring TB on an airplane, how TB can be prevented, TB vaccine, and what an individual should do before traveling internationally and if an individual thinks that he/she may have been exposed to someone with TB disease.

This information sheet discusses TB and the risk for international travelers. It explains TB transmission, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of the disease, and how drug resistance occurs. The information sheet considers whether international travelers are at risk of MDR or XDR TB while traveling, the risk of acquiring TB on an airplane, how TB can be prevented, TB vaccine, and what an individual should do before traveling internationally and if an individual thinks that he/she may have been exposed to someone with TB disease.

This information sheet explains TB for employers in non-healthcare settings. It describes TB disease, latent TB infection (LTBI), active TB, how it is determined whether a patient has active TB or LTBI, the symptoms of TB, what one should do if an employee reports having positive TB or has been in contact with someone with TB, and what happens after the employer contacts the local or state TB program.