TUBERCULOS

IS

WHAT IS
TUBERCULO
SIS?

Tuberculosis, commonly
known as TB, is a
contagious and an often
severe airborne disease
caused by a bacterial
infection.

TB typically affects the

lungs, but it also may affect
any other organ of the body.
It is usually treated with a
regimen of drugs taken for 6
months to 2 years,
depending on the type of
infection.

WHAT CAUSES
TUBERCULOSIS?

Tuberculosis is caused by
the infectious agent known
as Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (Mtb). This rodshaped bacterium, also
called Koch's bacillus, was
discovered by Dr. Robert
Koch in 1882.

CHARACTERISTICS
Mtb is a small, slow-growing
bacterium that can live only in
people. It is not found in other
animals, insects, soil, or other
nonliving things.
Aerobic bacterium, meaning it
needs oxygen to survive. For
this reason, during active TB
disease, Mtb complexes are
always found in the upper air

Person breathes the mtb contaminated

air
The bacteria reaches the lungs
Mtb infection occurs

BUT!

The bacteria can remain asleep for

years and not cause a TB disease.
Thats what you call LATENT TB
infection
People who have latent TB
infection do not get sick and do not
spread the bacteria to others. But,
some people with latent TB
infection eventually do get TB
disease.

WHO IS AT RISK
FOR
TUBERCULOSIS?

People who uses:

Tobacco
Drug
Alcohol abuser
People who have been diagnosed with:
HIV/AIDS
Malnourishment
Diabete
End-stage kidney disease
Cancers

WHAT ARE THE

SYMPTOMS OF
TUBERCULOSIS
?

Coughing that
lasts three or
more weeks
Coughing up
blood
Chest pain, or
pain with
breathing or
coughing

Fatigue
Fever
Night sweats
Chills
Loss of
appetite

HOW IS
TUBERCULOSIS
DIAGNOSED?

Blood tests
Imaging tests
Sputum tests

The most commonly used

diagnostic tool for tuberculosis is
a simple skin test, though blood
tests are becoming more
commonplace. A small amount of
a substance called PPD tuberculin
is injected just below the skin of
your inside forearm. You should
feel only a slight needle prick.

Within 48 to 72 hours, a health

care professional will check
your arm for swelling at the
injection site. A hard, raised
red bump means you're likely to
have TB infection. The size of
the bump determines whether
the test results are significant

RESULTS CAN BE WRONG

A false-positive test may

happen if you've been
vaccinated recently with the
bacillus Calmette-Guerin
(BCG) vaccine

HOW IS
TUBERCULOSIS
TREATED?

isoniazid
ethambutol (Myambutol)
pyrazinamide
rifampin (Rifadin,
Rimactane)

HOW CAN
TUBERCULOSIS BE
PREVENTED?

BCG vaccine
TB Treatment as TB prevention

Preventing TB transmission in
households
Houses should be adequately ventilated
Anyone who coughs should be educated on
cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene
If possible, sleep alone in a separate,
adequately ventilated room
Spend as little time as possible on public
transport;
Spend as little time as possible in places where