| Most Americans probably think of tuberculosis, or | | | | laugh, sing or talk. It's generally not that easy to |
| TB, as a disease that our grandparents or | | | | catch TB. You would have to have repeated |
| great-grandparents had to worry about but was | | | | exposure to get it. |
| cured decades ago. A century ago, it was known | | | | What are the symptoms of TB? |
| as "consumption" because it slowly consumed a | | | | The most common symptoms of TB are having |
| person until the person seemed to waste away. | | | | a cough which lasts more than 3 weeks, coughing |
| Back then it killed one out of every seven people | | | | up blood, chest pain, sudden weight loss, fever |
| in the 1900s in the United States. The truth is, | | | | and night sweats. |
| even though TB for the most part is controlled in | | | | Which jobs require TB testing? |
| the US, it is still a potentially fatal disease that we | | | | You are required to get a test for TB if you are |
| need to take seriously. | | | | a health care worker. Also if you work in any of |
| Every 20 seconds, someone in the world dies | | | | the following places: jails, homeless shelters, |
| from TB. Also roughly a third of the world's | | | | mental institutions, nursing homes, migrant camps |
| population is infected with TB. It is not a disease | | | | or schools. |
| that has been cured and wiped off the earth. The | | | | Why do these jobs require testing? |
| worrying part about TB is that there are now | | | | Some jobs are considered higher-risk than others |
| new strains of TB which are drug-resistant. | | | | for catching TB. Health care workers may have |
| Why is TB testing important? | | | | more exposure to TB than other people. The |
| TB control is taken pretty seriously in the US | | | | disease is more likely to spread in places where |
| because at one stage, it was the leading cause of | | | | many people interact, so all the institutions above |
| death in the country. The disease still kills more | | | | are places where the disease might thrive. TB is |
| people worldwide than any other contagious | | | | also more likely to affect people who are in poor |
| disease. | | | | health, are malnourished, and have lower incomes. |
| In the forties, medicines were discovered which | | | | In addition, in some countries TB is a lot more |
| cured TB. As a result, the disease started to die | | | | common than in the US, thus migrant populations |
| down. Still, in the 70's and 80's TB control was | | | | and ethnic minorities are considered higher-risk for |
| slackened. This resulted in a comeback of the | | | | TB. |
| disease in the mid-eighties to early nineties. Since | | | | How do I get tested for TB? |
| then, the US government has again stepped up | | | | You can get either a blood test or a TB skin test, |
| efforts to control TB. | | | | but the skin test is more common and less costly. |
| How do you catch TB? | | | | Two to three days later, the skin is checked for |
| Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria called M. | | | | a reaction. If the reaction is positive, it means you |
| tuberculosis. The bacteria usually infect the lungs. | | | | have been exposed to TB at some point but you |
| But sometimes it also infects other body parts, | | | | may or may not have an active infection. You will |
| like the kidneys, spine, bones, and brain. If left | | | | need to get a chest x-ray to confirm whether |
| untreated, the disease can kill. | | | | you have active TB or if you are just a TB |
| You can catch TB if you inhale the air of | | | | carrier. If you test positive, either way your |
| someone who has TB in his lungs. The bacteria | | | | doctor will let you know which steps to take next. |
| are airborne when he cough or sneeze, or even | | | | |