Symptoms & Treatment

TB Symptoms

With TB infection a person may have no symptoms, may not feel sick and is not contagious.  The person may have a positive TB skin test but a negative chest x-ray

With TB disease, there are many symptoms, including:

• a bad cough that lasts weeks
• chest pain
• coughing up blood
• fatigue
• weight loss
• no appetite
• chills
• fever
• night sweats.

Persons with active TB disease can spread TB to others.  Treatment involves several drugs taken over several months in order to fully treat TB and reduce the risk of exposing others.

Treatment

TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again.  If they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.

• Nationwide Shortage of Isonizaid (INH): Alameda County Public Health Advisory

Get more info from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention >>