Minority Women's Health

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Tuberculosis (TB)

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that can affect any part of your body, but it usually attacks your lungs. TB is spread through the air. If someone with TB of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, people nearby who breathe in the bacteria can get TB. If your body can't stop the bacteria from growing, you will develop TB disease. If this happens and the TB is in the lungs, it can cause these symptoms:

• a bad cough that won't go away (with blood or phlegm)
• chest pain
• fatigue (feeling very tired)
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• chills
• fever
• night sweats

If you think you may have TB, see your doctor right away. TB can be treated and cured.

The number of TB cases in the U.S. has changed over the years. In 1993, most TB cases were seen in people born in the U.S. Over the years cases among people born in the U.S. dropped, while cases in people born outside the U.S. increased. Among people born in the U.S., African Americans have the highest rate of TB cases, compared to other groups. African Americans accounted for almost 45% of TB cases in the U.S.-born population and 19% of all TB cases.

Publications

1.   Questions and Answers About TB — This booklet gives thorough yet easy-to-understand explanations of tuberculosis (TB), how it is spread, latent TB infection and active TB disease, as well as information on how to prevent spreading TB.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/faqs/default.htm

2.     Stop TB in the African-American Community — Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious problem in the African-American community. This flier has information about TB and how to reduce its rate in African-Americans.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/populations/TBinAfricanAmericans/tbflyer.pdf

3.     Tuberculosis: Getting Healthy, Staying Healthy — This easy-to-read booklet explains tuberculosis and how it is spread, diagnosed, and treated.

   http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/tuberculosis/Understanding/PDF/TB.pdf

4. 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/

Organizations

1.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS (CDC INFO)
2.   National Prevention Information Network, CDC, HHS
3. American Association for Respiratory Care
4. American Lung Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.