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1. What is TB or Tuberculosis?

TB, or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of your body, but they usually attack the lungs. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States. Each year since 2000, Memphis and Shelby County has average a total 80 confirmed cases.

2. How is tuberculosis spread?

Tuberculosis germs are spread through the air when someone with infectious TB coughs, sneezes, or in some way spreads germs into the air around them. Learn more about the ways TB can and cannot be spread.

3. What are the symptoms of tuberculosis disease?

Symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs. TB in the lungs may cause a bad cough, pain in the chest, and coughing up blood or sputum.

4. What is the difference between TB infection and TB disease?

TB germs can live in your body for a very long time 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.

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. If people have TB disease, they need medicine for six to nine months.

5. 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. If you have TB infection (a positive skin test reaction) you need to take medicine to keep from developing TB disease. This calls treatment for TB infection and usually lasts from four to nine months.

6. Can TB disease be cured?

Yes. Using special drugs that kill TB germs can cure TB disease. It takes at least six to nine months of medication to wipe them all out. If medication is taken properly after one to two weeks, a person with TB disease may no longer be contagious to others. It is very important to take all medication as prescribed.

7. How is TB disease treated?

TB disease can almost always be cured with medicine. But the medicine must be taken as the doctor or nurse tells you.

If you have TB disease, you will need to take several different drugs. Taking several drugs will do a better job of killing all of the bacteria and preventing them from becoming resistant to the drugs.