Fighting TB With Every Breath

World TB Day

World TB Day is every year on March 24, and it’s a great time to look at the prevention and control of this horrible disease. In 2019, there were 8,916 cases reported in the U.S. and 17 in Nebraska. 

What Is TB?

TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It's spread from person to person through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or spits. A person only needs to inhale a few of these germs to become infected. 

TB usually attacks the lungs, but the bacteria can also attack other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine and brain. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal. The disease was once the leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. 

Just a Simple Test

Testing for TB involves a simple skin or blood test, which can identify whether an individual has been infected with the bacteria. If a test comes back positive, further evaluation may be necessary. About a third of the world's population has latent TB, which means people have been exposed to TB bacteria but are not yet ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease. 

Symptoms of TB

When a person develops active TB disease, the symptoms may be mild for many months. Those symptoms can include: 

• A bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer
• Pain in the chest
• Coughing up blood or sputum (mucus from deep inside the lungs)
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss
• No appetite
• Chills
• Fever
• Night sweats

Ignoring those symptoms can lead to a delay in care and potentially spreading the TB bacteria to others. 

When to Get Tested

You should get tested for TB if:

• You work in a health care environment or in a place where TB is more common (homeless shelters, prison or jails, some nursing homes)
• You have spent time with someone who has TB 
• You have HIV or another medical problem that weakens the immune system
• You have symptoms of TB
• You are from or have visited a country where TB is common (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia)
• You use illegal drugs

Talk With Your Provider

If you have any additional questions about TB, talk with your provider. If you don't have one, find a Methodist provider who's the right fit for you.