Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.
TB is spread through the air from one person to another through droplets. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are infected but not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But some people with latent infection go on to develop active TB disease. This may happen when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. People with active TB can be treated. People with latent TB infection can take medicine so that they do not develop active TB disease. Latent or active TB can be diagnosed by a TB skin test or a TB blood test, and a chest x-ray and sputum culture.
TB Clinic Services:
Coos County Public Health Clinic provides:
- TB skin test can be done Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (not on Thursday). A follow-up visit must be done within 48-72 hours to check the results; these can be done Monday through Friday. Call for pricing.
- Case management for persons with latent or active TB.
- No-cost chest x-ray and medications for persons with latent or active TB who have no health care insurance.