Oak Valley Health’s patient education pages share the skills, knowledge, and habits patients and families need to know to cope with a daily health issue. We hope this information can influence patient behaviour to improve health outcomes and provide you with a sense of control and autonomy.
Learn more about the risks, causes, and treatment of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can be contagious if it affects the lungs. There are two types of TB: latent TB infection and active TB disease.
TB can be spread from one person to another through aerosols that are released from the lungs or airways of a person with active pulmonary and/or laryngeal TB disease into the air when they cough, talk, or sneeze.
People nearby can breathe in the TB bacteria and become infected; but it is important to note that TB is only spread through close and prolonged contact. TB is not spread by shaking someone’s hands, sharing food or drinks, kissing, or touching toilet seats.
The risk of being exposed to TB is very low for most Canadians.
However, your risk of getting TB may increase if you:
Have been around people known or suspected to have active pulmonary and/or laryngeal TB
Are a smoker
Use illegal drugs
Are underweight
Are a heavy drinker
Are traveling to countries with high rates of TB
Work in settings with high rates of TB and/or where you could be exposed to TB, such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and long-term care facilities
Have had TB in the past but did not complete the treatment
Have certain diseases or conditions, such as HIV or AIDS, diabetes, or silicosis
Have had certain drug treatments that affect your immune system
Most people who are infected with TB do not develop the disease and are considered to have latent TB infections. People with latent TB infections do not have any symptoms and do not spread the TB bacteria to others. Latent TB infections may progress to active TB disease if it is left untreated.
A small percentage of people infected with TB become sick and are considered to have active TB disease. People with active TB infections can spread the TB bacteria and experience symptoms that include:
A cough that:
Lasts for more than two weeks
May make you cough up phlegm (thick liquid that comes from your airways or lungs)
May make you cough up blood
Chest pain
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Weakness
Fatigue
Chills
Night sweats
Fever
Although TB mainly causes symptoms in the lungs and airways, it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the spine, bones, kidneys, brain, and lymph nodes. If active TB is not treated properly or is left untreated, the disease can be fatal and may lead to death.
Health care providers can determine whether you have TB through a skin test and/or a blood test. If your skin test comes back positive, additional tests, such as chest X-rays or testing of a phlegm sample, may be required to determine whether you have the latent or active form of TB.
Both latent and active TB can be treated.
Active TB disease can be cured by taking antibiotics prescribed by your health care provider. It is important to take all antibiotics as prescribed to avoid spreading TB to others and to avoid increasing the risk of getting TB again in the future.
Nausea or vomiting
Jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin)
Fever
Loss of appetite
Dark urine
Worsening symptoms or symptoms that won’t go away with treatment
