Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread through the air from person to person.  The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected. The TB bacteria usually attack the lungs, but can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

TB is NOT spread by

- Shaking someone's hand

- Sharing food or drink

- Touching bed linens or toilet seats

- Sharing toothbrushes

- Kissing

Symptoms of TB Disease

Symptoms of TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB disease symptoms may include:

- A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer

- Pain in the chest

- Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)

- Weakness or fatigue

- Weight loss

- No appetite

- Chills

- Fever

- Sweating at night

If you think you may have been exposed to someone with TB disease, contact your health care provider or your local or state TB control office.

TB Risk Factors

Not all people need a TB test. You should get a TB test if you are at increased risk. Generally people at high risk for developing TB disease fall into two categories:

1. People who have been recently infected with TB bacteria

2. People with medical conditions that weaken the immune system

Conditions or activities that place you at increased risk:

- You have spent time with a person known to have TB disease or suspected to have TB disease

- You have HIV infection or another condition that puts you at high risk for TB disease

- You have signs and symptoms of TB disease

- You are from a country where TB disease is very common

- You live or work where TB disease is more common, such as a homeless shelter, migrant farm camp, prison or jail, and some nursing homes

- You use illegal drugs

While anyone can get TB disease, some people who are infected with TB bacteria are more likely to get sick.

You have a higher chance of getting TB disease if you

- Have HIV infection

- Have been infected with TB bacteria in the last two years

- Have other health problems that make it hard for your body to fight disease

- Abuse alcohol or use illegal drugs

- Were not treated correctly for TB infection or TB disease in the past

There are two kinds of tests that are used to determine if a person has been infected with TB bacteria: the tuberculin skin test and TB blood tests.

A positive TB skin test or TB blood test only tells that a person has been infected with TB bacteria. It does not tell whether the person has latent TB infection or has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.