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Home > A-Z Health Topics > Minority Women's Health > Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders > Tuberculosis (TB)

Health conditions common in Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander women:

Accidents Alcoholism and drug abuse Asthma Breast cancer Cancer Cervical cancer Diabetes Heart disease Hepatitis B High blood pressure High cholesterol HIV/AIDS Infant death Lupus Mental health problems and suicide Osteoporosis Overweight and obesity Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Smoking Stroke Tuberculosis (TB) Violence

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.

Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders have higher TB rates than most other groups in the United States. The good news is that TB rates have been going down. But, they are not going down as fast as they once were. So TB is still a serious health concern.

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More information on tuberculosis (TB)

Explore other publications and websites

• 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 Fact Sheets and Brochures by Language — This internet site discusses tuberculosis disease and infection, as well as tests for and treatment of tuberculosis. Translated materials are available in Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tibetan, and Vietnamese.
  http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/tb/factsheets/translations.html
• 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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