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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.
Information for Health Care Providers
In order to ensure the effective diagnosis, treatment, and management of Tuberculosis, DOH-Charlotte, TB Prevention and Control Program collaborates with clinicians and county health departments throughout Florida. These partners work together to guarantee that individuals needing TB screening or evaluation receive all necessary services and that patients with latent TB infections or active TB disease receive adequate, complete treatment.
The DOH-Charlotte TB Program offers the following services:
- Tuberculin Skin Tests (TSTs) and Chest X-rays including clearance letters for employees with positive TSTs.
- Disease surveillance.
- TB case management, which includes patient education, directly observed therapy (DOT), TB medications, incentives, and enablers to facilitate adherence to treatment.
- TB contact investigations.
- Education materials for providers and patients.
- Public health laboratory services.