What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe respiratory disease caused by bacteria that are spread through the air from person to person. While the bacteria usually attack the lungs, they can also affect any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If left untreated, tuberculosis can be fatal.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
Common symptoms of tuberculosis include:
- A bad cough that lasts more than two weeks
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood or mucus
- Fatigue or weakness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fever or chills
- Night sweats
However, many infected people – approximately 25% of the world’s population – do not have any tuberculosis symptoms and are unaware that they need tuberculosis treatment.
How is tuberculosis transmitted?
TB is an airborne disease transmitted via respiratory droplets, similarly to other common bacterial illnesses. When bacteria are released into the air, nearby individuals may inhale them, leading to a new infection. However, not everyone who inhales TB bacteria will get sick. You typically need to spend close, prolonged contact with someone who has active, untreated TB.
In most cases, people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected are able to naturally fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria then becomes inactive but remains in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB infection.
Who’s at risk for tuberculosis?
Everyone is at risk, but your risk may be greater if you:
- Have a weakened immune system
- Spend time in a crowded, poorly ventilated area with a high rate of TB infection, such as a nursing home or healthcare setting
- Were exposed to someone with an active tuberculosis infection
- Were infected within the past two years
TB testing options at vybe
There are two kinds of tests used to detect TB bacteria in the body: the TB skin test (TST) and TB blood test. vybe provides both types of tests at all locations. A positive test only tells you if you’ve been infected with TB bacteria. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum (phlegm), will help determine if the person has latent TB infection (LTBI) or has progressed to TB disease.
Skin test (PPD test)
The TB skin test has many names that can be confusing because they’re used interchangeably: Mantoux tuberculin skin test, TB skin test, tuberculin skin test (TST), and Purified Protein Derivative (PPD).
This test requires two visits with a healthcare provider. On the first visit, the healthcare worker places the test by injecting a small amount of fluid into your skin. You must return within 48 to 72 hours for the second visit, where the healthcare provider reads the test. If the test indicates that you’re infected with TB bacteria, you’ll receive other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or TB disease.
Blood test
Blood TB tests are often the first choice of employers who need the most reliable results to verify employment. vybe offers the Quantiferon Gold Plus which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A healthcare provider will draw your blood and send it to a laboratory for analysis and results.
A positive TB blood test means you’ve been infected with TB bacteria. Additional tests like a chest x-ray help determine if you have a latent TB infection or TB disease.
TB blood tests are preferred for:
- Patients who have already received the TB vaccine.
- A patient who may be unable to return for a second appointment to assess any reaction to the TST.
Tuberculosis treatment at vybe
If you have a positive result from either test, the vybe medical team will discuss the history of your exposure to TB and determine whether your immune system has been weakened. A chest X-ray is a usual response to a positive test for tuberculosis. Treatment for TB, active or latent, is a longer term treatment regimen, and typically not handled in an urgent care setting. vybe will help manage the referral and transfer your records as needed.
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