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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe infection caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB usually starts in the lungs. The bacteria are easily spread from one person to another through the air. They can live in your body a long time without making you sick. This is called latent TB. Latent means you do not have symptoms, but you may develop them later. Latent TB can develop into active TB if it is not treated.
Call 911 for any of the following:
- You have chest pain or cough up blood.
- You have trouble breathing.
Contact your healthcare provider if:
- You have a fever, headache, and a stiff neck.
- You have a rash or nausea, or you are vomiting.
- The whites of your eyes or your skin look yellow.
- Your urine looks like dark tea or coffee.
- Your symptoms do not go away, or they get worse, even after you take medicine.
- You have a cough that does not go away after 3 or 4 weeks.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
- Antibiotics help fight the infection. You may need to take 3 to 4 types of antibiotics for up to 8 weeks. Then you may need to take at least 2 types of antibiotics for another 18 to 31 weeks.
- Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him or her if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Remember to take your medicines:
- Get involved in the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) program. Healthcare providers help make sure you take your medicines correctly.
- Take your medicine at the same time every day. Each night, put out the pills for the next day. Mark a calendar each day you take your pills.
- Create reminders. Ask a family member or friend to remind you to take your pills.
- Keep medicines where you will see them. Keep the pills in a place where you cannot miss them, such as the bathroom or kitchen. Be sure they are out of the reach of children.
Prevent the spread of TB:
- Wash your hands often. Use soap and water. Wash your hands after you use the bathroom, change a child's diapers, or sneeze. Wash your hands before you prepare or eat food.
- Cover your mouth and nose. You may need to wear a mask. Use tissues when you cough or sneeze. Throw the used tissue away. If possible, flush used tissues down a toilet.
- Avoid close contact with others. Babies and elderly people are at increased risk for TB.
- Tell family, friends, and coworkers that you have TB. They may have latent TB and need to take medicine to prevent it from becoming active.
For more information:
- CDC National Prevention Information Network
PO Box 6003
Rockville , MD 20849-6003
Phone: 1- 800 - 4585231
Web Address: http://www.cdcnpin.org
- World Health Organization
Web Address: www.who.int
Follow up with your healthcare provider as directed:
You may need to return once a month for tests to monitor your condition. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.