Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick.
Some people develop TB disease soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB germs. Other people have latent TB infection and may get sick years later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Treating latent TB infection is effective in preventing TB disease.
Tuberculosis Fact Sheet
Learn more about symptoms, transmission, testing, and treatment.
Symptoms
General symptoms may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever, and/or night sweats. Symptoms of TB of the lungs may include cough, chest pain, and/or coughing up blood. TB can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, or spine. Other symptoms depend on the part of the body that is affected. TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:
- Cough that lasts three weeks or longer
- Pain in the chest
- Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
Other symptoms of TB disease are weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, and sweating at night. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others.
Testing and Treatment
Anyone may be tested for TB, including adults, children, pregnant women, people with colds, and people who have had the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine. Skin tests cost $25, and are free to those who have had contact with a documented active TB case. After skin testing, you must return to DOH-Madison for a reading in 48 to 72 hours. The skin test area will be examined by a nurse, and a referral will be made if needed.
TB is treated with a number of special antibiotics given over six to twelve months. The TB germs are very strong and slow to be killed. It is very important that persons infected with TB follow the medication schedule closely. Failure to follow the medication schedule could result in a more serious “drug resistant” TB condition.
To be treated by DOH-Madison, have your private physician submit a referral. DOH-Madison staff will order the needed medications, chest x-rays, and arrange for “directly observed therapy”, which is making sure TB patients take their medicine by having a staff member observe them either at the patient’s home or at the health clinic.