Tuberculosis
(TB)

What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease usually affects the lungs, but other organs can also be affected. The disease is readily detected by skin test, chest X-ray, or by demonstration of TB bacteria in a clinical specimen. There are two distinct stages of TB. TB infected individuals are those who test positive on the TB skin test, but do not have the bacteria in their saliva and are without clinical symptoms. In contrast, TB diseased persons have TB bacteria in their saliva and are symptomatic for the disease.

How do you get it?
Anyone can get TB. You can get it person-to-person through the air by droplets produced during coughing or sneezing. Those at increased risk of getting TB include older individuals with previous exposure to the disease and persons with weakened immune systems. Long-term exposure to individuals infected with the disease also increases the risk of getting TB.

What are the symptoms of TB?
During the early stages of TB, the symptoms may be mild or entirely absent. With progression of the disease, tuberculosis can lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, chest pain, low-grade fever, persistent coughing with mucus (occasionally bloody), lots of sweating at night, and a general feeling of being ill.

When do symptoms start?
A positive skin test may occur from 1 to 3 months after infection. If TB infection progresses to TB disease, it usually occurs within the first 6 to 12 months after infection.

For how long is a person contagious?
Untreated or inadequately treated persons with TB disease (the patient shows symptoms of the disease and TB bacteria are found in the saliva) may remain contagious for years. Those with TB infection (TB bacteria are not found in the saliva) but without the overt disease are unable to spread the infection to others. Sometimes, tuberculosis may persist for a lifetime in the TB infection stage without progressing to TB disease.

Should persons with TB be excluded from school or work?
Yes. Persons with TB should be excluded from school or work until authorized to return by their physician or the Department of Health.

What is the treatment for TB?
The treatment usually consists of a combination of drugs. Generally, TB drugs are taken daily for 5 to 12 months. It is important that the exact medication plan be decided by a qualified health care provider. If left untreated, an individual with TB disease can become severely ill, and also transmit the disease to others. Untreated TB disease can be fatal.

How can you keep from getting it?
The most important way to stop the spread of TB is to cover the mouth and nose when coughing.

Persons with TB should be given prompt treatment with the appropriate medications.

All medications prescribed by a doctor should be taken on time and without fail.

Close contacts of a person with TB disease should seek prompt medical attention.

Visit the Hawaii Tuberculosis Control Program website for more information.