What Is Tuberculosis?
How Do You Test for TB?
What Might I Observe?
Follow-Up to TB Testing

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by a bacteria. Young children, elderly people, and people with health problems are especially at risk.

TB can spread by coughing. The infection can enter the lungs and cause no symptoms for a long time. But it can progress to cause pneumonia, fevers, and weight loss. It can spread to the brain, heart, kidneys, bones, and even cause death.

How do you test for TB?

TB testing is done by a skin test. The recommended test, called "Mantoux" or "PPD," involves a small bubble of fluid injected under the skin on the forearm. It is done by a health professional. Two to three days after the skin test, a trained person inspects the site for swelling.

What might I observe?

Most children with TB have no symptoms.

You might notice:

• Chronic cough
• Pneumonia

Follow-up to TB testing

If the TB test causes swelling of more than 5-10 mm diameter, it is "positive" and indicates possible infection with TB. The child should be referred to his health care provider for further evaluation. This might involve repeat skin testing and chest x-ray.

Treatment might include:

• Oral medication for six to 12 months (hospitalization for severe cases), with close medical follow-up
• Reporting, investigation, and follow-up by the local health department
• Testing and possible treatment for family and school contacts
• Recommendations that the child may return to school when the health care provider certifies that he is no longer contagious

When TB is identified early, treatment can prevent serious health complications and the spread of the disease.