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Tuberculosis (TB)

• More information on tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (too-bur-kyuh-LOH-suhss), or TB, is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

The general symptoms of TB disease include:

• Feelings of sickness or weakness
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats

Other symptoms of TB depend on the parts of the body affected. With TB of the lungs, symptoms also can include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood.

If you have symptoms of TB or if you have been around someone who has TB disease, go to your doctor or health department for tests. TB can be treated and cured.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have a lower TB rate than other minority groups. But their rate of infection is still about six times higher than whites. Minority groups tend to have more TB risk factors than whites. TB risk factors include lower economic status and HIV infection.

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More information on tuberculosis (TB)

Explore other publications and websites

• American Indian Health — This website is an information portal to information about the health of native peoples of the United States. The topics include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and environmental health.
  http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/
• Questions and Answers About TB — This booklet talks about how active and latent tuberculosis is spread, testing, vaccinations, and exposure to TB.
  http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/faqs/default.htm
• Tuberculosis (Copyright © American Lung Association) — This publication discusses the difference between TB infection and TB disease, symptoms of TB, modes of transmission, testing, and innovative treatment options.
  http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/tuberculosis/
• Tuberculosis: Getting Healthy, Staying Healthy — This booklet explains tuberculosis and how it is spread, diagnosed, and treated.
  http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/tuberculosis/Understanding/Documents/TB.pdf

Connect with other organizations

• American Association for Respiratory Care
  http://www.aarc.org/
• American Lung Association
  http://www.lungusa.org/
• Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, NCHSTP, CDC, OPHS, HHS
  http://www.cdc.gov/tb/
• National Prevention Information Network, CDC
  http://www.cdcnpin.org

Content last updated March 1, 2012.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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