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What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread through the air from a person with TB of the lungs or throat when they cough, sneeze, speak or sing. TB may affect any part of the body but usually affects the lungs.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of TB include: weight loss, fever, night sweats, feeling sick or weak and if the lungs are involved, coughing, chest pain and coughing up blood.
People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies but they are not sick because the germs are not active. They do not have symptoms of TB disease and cannot spread the germs to others. They will usually have a positive TB skin test.
There are tests that can be used to detect TB infection and TB disease, including a skin test, chest x-ray and others. Medications can be prescribed to treat both TB infection and TB disease.
You should know:
By law all suspected and confirmed cases of TB disease must be reported to the Broward County Health Department TB Program. Staff will follow each case of TB for 6 to 9 months, and occasionally longer, until the disease is cured and all contacts have been identified and examined.
Am I eligible?
Only persons with certain high risk conditions may receive testing and treatment for latent TB infection at the Broward County Health Department.
Call 954-467-4700, Ext. 5746 to see if you qualify.
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