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What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB usually affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes (glands), the bones and (rarely) the brain. Infection with TB may not develop into active (infectious) TB disease. The bacteria can remain in the body, but the body’s defences prevent them from causing sickness – this is known as ‘latent’ TB.
What are the symptoms?
TB disease develops slowly in the body, and it usually takes several months for symptoms to appear.
Any of the following symptoms may suggest TB disease: fever, night sweats, weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite and persistent cough which may be bloody.
If you are concerned that you might have TB because you develop any of these symptoms, visit or contact your GP for advice. TB is usually diagnosed with a chest x-ray and by examining a specimen of sputum.
How do you catch TB?
Transmition occurs by the inhalation of droplets from coughs and sneezes of an infected person.
Only some people with TB in the lungs are infectious to other people. Such cases are called ‘sputum smear positive’ (or ‘open TB‘). Even then, you need close and prolonged contact with them to be at risk of being infected.
Who is most at risk from TB?
Anyone can get TB but it is difficult to catch. You are most at risk if someone living in the same house as you catches the disease, or if a close friend has the disease.
The following people have a greater chance of becoming ill with TB if exposed to it:
• Those in very close contact with someone known to have open TB/infectious TB
• The young and the elderly
• People with co-mobidities e.g. diabetics and poor health
• People on medications affecting the body’s defence system
• People with weakened immune system e.g. HIV-positive
• People in overcrowded, poor housing or homeless
• People who are dependent on drugs or alcohol
• People from high TB incidence countries
How is TB treated?
Treatment for TB normally consists of a combination of antibiotics (usually tablets) which are taken for about six months. It is important that the medication is taken as directed, and the course of treatment completed, so that antibiotic-resistant strains of TB do not develop. Sputum smear positive cases stop being infectious after a couple weeks of treatment
Patients with TB in hospital
Patients with ‘open’ TB who require an inpatient stay in hospital, will be nursed in a single room, until the first 2 weeks of treatment have been completed, or until discharge (if sooner). Face masks will not be routinely worn by staff caring for the patient, unless multi-drug resistant TB (MDRTB) is suspected or patient is undertaking aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), such as deep suctioning, where FFP3 mask is required.
If patients with TB need to visit other departments (for example going for an X-ray), within the first 2 weeks of treatment, they may need to wear a mask.
How can TB be prevented?
A vaccination against TB is available, called BCG. BCG does not give total protection but greatly helps the body’s defences to fight off the infection. In the Trust’s catchment area, people at higher risk of catching TB, such as doctors, nurses and close contacts of TB cases, are given the vaccine.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Infection prevention and control (IPC) service.
About this information
Service:
Infection prevention and control (IPC)
Reference:
LL/014
Approval date:
23 December 2024
Review date:
1 December 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.