In This Section . . .

Tuberculosis (TB)

SERVICES OFFERED | GENERAL INFORMATION | WHO SHOULD BE TESTED | RESOURCES

SERVICES OFFERED
The Phelps/Maries County Health Department offers TB skin tests Monday through Wednesday and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.

Tuberculosis drugs are provided for TB active disease cases and TB infected individuals at no charge. Individuals taking these drugs are required to undergo periodic blood tests to monitor liver functions. The patient's primary care provider performs these tests.

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is spread from person to person through the air via tiny moisture droplets. These droplets are expelled when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, shouts, sneezes, sings or talks. Once airborne, the droplets and the bacteria they carry can be inhaled into the lungs of nearby people. TB disease can scar the lungs and attack other parts of the body including the kidneys, bones or the brain.

A person with TB disease is sick because the tuberculosis bacteria are actively reproducing in the lungs or other tissue. Persons with TB disease in their lungs usually show a positive "skin test," and an abnormal chest x-ray along with one or more of the symptoms of tuberculosis. Possible signs and symptoms of tuberculosis include a cough longer than two weeks, chest pain, feeling weak, unexplained weight loss, fever, coughing up blood and night sweats.

A person with TB infection has been exposed to the TB bacteria, but is not sick with TB disease. This is because the body's natural defenses, or immune system is keeping the bacteria dormant or inactive. These people may develop active disease at a later time if something happens that makes the body less able to protect itself. Medication is often prescribed for these people to prevent them from developing disease. A person with tuberculosis infection usually shows a positive skin test, a normal chest x-ray and does not feel sick. These individuals cannot spread the bacteria to other people.

The number of reported tuberculosis active disease cases in Missouri increased by 10.7 percent, from 224 cases in 1996 to 248 cases in 1997. Sixty-three percent of these cases were reported in the major metropolitan areas of the state. The World Health Organization estimates there are three million deaths worldwide from tuberculosis each year, and eight to ten million new cases developing worldwide every year.

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WHO SHOULD BE TESTED?
Testing should be done for those who are at high risk for getting TB or are experiencing symptoms such as a cough longer than two weeks, chest pain, feeling weak, unexplained weight loss, fever, coughing up blood and night sweats. Anyone can develop tuberculosis once they are infected. Those considered at highest risk are:

• The elderly
  
• People with HIV infection or other disease that weaken the immune system
  
• Inmates and workers in correctional facilities
  
• Those who have had close contact with people who have tuberculosis disease
  
• Homeless persons who spend time in shelters, treatment centers, jails, etc.
  
• Certain minorities or foreign-born individuals from areas of the world such as Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Eastern European countries or Russia where tuberculosis is common
  
• Persons with certain medical conditions including diabetes, silicosis and those receiving treatment for cancer.

Testing is an important first step in preventing the occurrence of TB disease. There is a 1-5% risk of TB infection in adults becoming active disease within one year of becoming infected if not given TB medication. Infected children have about a 10% lifetime risk of developing disease if not given TB medication.

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Resources:
CDC's Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
The American Lung Association