This section explains what to do if you or someone you know contracts tuberculosis.
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, or TB as it more commonly known, is an infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It most commonly affects the lungs, and is caught from other people. Once inhaled, the germs may be destroyed by the body's immune system and cause no problem, or they may cause an illness a few days to a few months later.
TB sometimes causes no immediate illness, but remains dormant in the body before developing many years after the original infection with the germ, particularly if the body is weakened by other medical problems. TB can now be completely cured by treatment. A vaccination may also prevent your children from developing the illness.
How do you catch TB?
TB is infectious. TB germs gather in your phlegm (doctors sometimes call this ‘open TB’ or ‘sputum positive’). That's why it's likely you will get TB through inhaling air, or dust containing the organism expelled from an infectious person.
To catch TB from another person, you must be exposed to it for a considerable time. Brief contact does not usually lead to TB, although screening may be advised.
You can also catch it by eating or drinking contaminated milk, dairy products and meat from infected cattle.
Symptoms
TB can affect any part of the body, but most commonly affects the lungs and lymph glands.
A cough is the commonest symptom. This is sometimes accompanied by sputum (phlegm) which can be bloodstained. There may also be chest pain, loss of appetite and weight, and a fever with sweating particularly at night. When TB affects the lymph glands, these may appear as lumps in the neck.
Further information
You can contact our Environmental Health Team using the contact information in the right-hand menu.