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Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious, life-threatening disease caused by bacteria (germs). TB usually attacks the lungs but can affect any part of the body, including the brain, lymph nodes, or spine.

TB is spread from one person to another through the air. When a person sick with TB coughs, speaks, or sings, people around them can breathe in the TB germs and get infected.

Symptoms may include fever, cough lasting more than 3 weeks, night sweats, chills, weight loss, fatigue, and anorexia.

Latent TB infection (LTBI) typically does not cause symptoms. People with LTBI can have TB germs in their body for years before getting sick with active TB disease and becoming contagious. Getting tested and treated for LTBI can prevent you from developing active TB disease in the future.

If you are a provider, learn more about the City’s TB guidelines and reporting requirements.

Testing

Most people do not know they have TB until they become sick. With proper care and treatment, TB can be cured and prevented from spreading. Find out if you are at risk by taking our TB risk assessment.

If you have symptoms or are at risk for TB, ask your provider for a TB test. If you receive a positive TB test result from your provider, you can visit a Health Department TB Clinic for free treatment. You can also search the NYC Health Map for tuberculosis testing and treatment.

NYC Health Map

There are two tests for TB: a blood test and a skin test. Your provider will talk to you about the tests and choose the right one for you.

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The Blood Test

When you get a TB blood test, your provider will collect a small sample of your blood. The blood sample is sent to a laboratory and tested for TB. Your provider will give you the test results in three to five days. Blood tests for LTBI are not affected by previous TB vaccination (bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG]).

The Skin Test

When you get a TB skin test, your provider will use a small needle to put a few drops of test solution under your skin. You will be asked to return after two to three days for the results.

Results

A negative test result usually means you do not have TB germs in your body. The test may not work if the TB germs are new in your body, or if your immune system is weak (for example, if you have HIV, or cancer). In this case, you may need a chest X-ray.

A positive test result usually means you have TB germs in your body, but you may have active TB (i.e., feel symptoms or be contagious). Your provider will use other tests, such as a chest X-ray or sputum cultures (a test on mucus coughed up from your lungs), to look for signs of active TB.

Symptoms

When a person is infected by TB germs, they become sick. The TB germs multiply and damage the body. This is called “active TB”. People with active TB usually show the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Coughing for more than three weeks
  • Coughing up blood (Hemoptysis)
  • Weight loss
  • Night sweats
  • Feeling tired all the time (Fatigue)
  • Loss or decrease in appetite
  • Chills

People with active TB must take medicine to kill the germs and prevent damage to the lungs and other parts of the body, including the brain, spine and kidneys. Until the person with active TB in their lungs is treated, they can spread the disease to others when they cough, speak, or sing.

Treatment

Active TB is a serious illness, and people can die from it if left untreated.

People with TB infection who take certain medications or have a medical condition, such as HIV or cancer, that can weaken the immune system should take medicine to kill TB germs and prevent active TB. These people include those who have a high risk for developing active TB, as well as people who:

  • Had a TB test result changed from negative to positive within the past two years.
  • Have recently spent a long time around someone who has active TB.
  • Was born in, or traveled to, or lived in (for more than 30 days in a row) countries with a high rate of TB, such as Africa, Asia, Mexico, Central or South America, the Caribbean, or Eastern Europe.

You need to take all your TB medicine. People with active TB feel better once they start taking medicine. The TB germs may come back if a person does not take all their medicine. If this happens, the TB germs may be stronger and will be harder to treat.

If you have active TB, your provider will tell you what medicines you need to take, and how long to take them. You will have to take TB medicine and attend all clinic appointments until the health care provider says that your treatment is complete.

Support is available for people to take their TB medicine daily through video or in-person directly observed therapy at a Health Department TB Clinic.

Additional Resources

More Information