Prevention
What can I do to protect myself?
If you have TB symptoms, seek treatment immediately. Someone with active TB disease will need to take several TB medicines for many months in order to become well and not infect others. By law, Tuberculosis must be reported by doctors, hospitals, and laboratories to the TB Control Program in the health department. This is necessary to make sure persons with active Tuberculosis are receiving proper medical care. We can prevent the spread of TB in the community by ensuring that the contacts of persons with TB are screened and have an opportunity to take preventive treatment if indicated.
Symptoms & Treatment
TB Symptoms
With TB infection, a person may have no symptoms, may not feel sick and is not contagious. The person may have a positive TB skin test but a negative chest X-ray.
With TB disease, there are many symptoms, including:
- A bad cough that lasts weeks
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- No appetite
- Chills
- Fever
- Night sweats
Persons with active TB disease can spread TB to others. Treatment involves several drugs taken over several months in order to fully treat TB and reduce the risk of exposing others.
Treatment
TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for six 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.
Testing
TB Screening
Alameda County Health, Public Health Department (ACPHD) does not have TB clinics. People who have been diagnosed with TB—or think they may have TB—need to see their doctor. If you have health insurance, the doctor will bill the insurance for the care. TB Control can help persons with active TB disease and their close contacts get medical care and complete treatment. TB Screening Test Sites »