Be aware though that your chances of contracting meningitis caused by the TB bacteriaincrease if you already have tuberculosis in the lungs, or you have AIDS, drink too much, or have other problems with your immune system. Tuberculosis bacteria also can travel to and infect the lymph nodes, making them swollen and sore. This, too, is a rare event. One infection that commonly occurs with tuberculosis is HIV. In fact, about one-third of people infected with HIV also have tuberculosis.
HIV affects the immune system, weakening it and making the body more susceptible to infections of all kinds, including TB. Because active tuberculosis disease is caused by the same type of bacteria no matter where in the body it strikes, the treatment is the same: A long course of antibiotics to destroy the bacteria. When this happens, doses have to be altered, he explains. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm.
A positive test for TB infection only tells that a person has been infected with TB germs. It does not tell whether or not the person 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. BCG is a vaccine for TB disease. BCG is used in many countries, but it is not generally recommended in the United States. BCG vaccination does not completely prevent people from getting TB. It may also cause a false positive tuberculin skin test.
However, persons who have been vaccinated with BCG can be given a tuberculin skin test or TB blood test. If you have latent TB infection but not TB disease, your doctor may want you to take a drug to kill the TB germs and prevent you from developing TB disease. The decision about taking treatment for latent infection will be based on your chances of developing TB disease. Some people are more likely than others to develop TB disease once they have TB infection.
This includes people with HIV infection, people who were recently exposed to someone with TB disease, and people with certain medical conditions. TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months.
It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.
In some situations, staff of the local health department meet regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy DOT. DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Treatment for latent TB can vary. It may involve taking an antibiotic once a week for 12 weeks or every day for 9 months. Treatment for active TB may involve taking several drugs for 6—9 months. When a person has a drug resistant strain of TB, the treatment will be more complex. It is essential to complete the full course of treatment, even if symptoms go away.
If a person stops taking their medication early, some bacteria can survive and become resistant to antibiotics. In this case, the person may go on to develop drug resistant TB. They can spread through the air in droplets when a person with pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, spits, laughs, or talks. Only people with active TB can transmit the infection. However, most people with the disease can no longer transmit the bacteria after they have received appropriate treatment for at least 2 weeks.
However, experts in the U. Some of the reasons include a low risk of infection in the country and a high likelihood that the vaccine will interfere with any future TB skin tests. People with weakened immune systems are most likely to develop active TB. The following are some issues that can weaken the immune system. This means that a person with HIV has a higher risk of developing TB and experiencing more severe symptoms than a person with a healthy immune system.
Treatment for TB can be complex in a person with HIV, but a doctor can develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both issues. TB can become a complication of HIV. Learn about other complications here. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke increase the risk of developing TB. These factors also make the disease harder to treat and more likely to return after treatment.
Quitting smoking and avoiding contact with smoke can reduce the risk of developing TB. Some other health issues that weaken the immune system and can increase the risk of developing TB include:. Also, some medical treatments, such as an organ transplant, impede the functioning of the immune system. Spending time in a country where TB is common can also increase the risk of developing it. If it spreads throughout the body, the infection can cause problems with the cardiovascular system and metabolic function , among other issues.
TB can also lead to sepsis , a potentially life threatening form of infection. An active TB infection is contagious and potentially life threatening if a person does not receive appropriate treatment.
However, most cases are treatable, especially when doctors detect them early. Anyone with a high risk of developing TB or any symptoms of the disease should see a doctor as soon as possible. Read the article in Spanish. A sack-like tissue called the pericardium surrounds the heart.
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