Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB)
What It Is, Where to Get Tested, and What to Do if You Have It
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that affects people all over the world. TB used to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States, but not anymore. In most cases, tuberculosis is preventable, treatable, and curable.
TB is caused by a tiny germ, a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB usually affects the lungs, but it sometimes harms other parts of the body, like the brain, kidneys, lymph nodes, or spine. Common symptoms of TB include weakness, fever, weight loss, night sweats, chest pain, and a cough (sometimes a bloody cough) that won’t go away. Thanks to the knowledge and medications we have today, TB can be cured. If left untreated, TB disease can lead to disability and death.
Although the number of TB cases in the United States has been dropping over the past 20 years, San Mateo County still experiences a significant number of TB cases each year.
To see how TB affects San Mateo County, take a look at our latest 2018 TB Annual Report, and then join us in the fight to prevent and cure TB!
Where can I get tested for TB in San Mateo County?
- You can ask your doctor for a TB skin test or blood test
- You can visit one of the San Mateo County TB Testing Clinics that offer TB skin tests or TB blood tests
Here are 3 things you can do to reduce TB in San Mateo County
- Learn the symptoms of TB disease
- If you have symptoms (or are close to someone with symptoms), ask your healthcare provider about TB testing
- If you’re being treated for TB, take all your medicine, exactly as your doctor prescribed it. Early treatment with antibiotics cures TB disease, so it’s very important to follow your doctor’s instructions and take all your medicine.
Do staff and children in school or childcare need to be tested for TB?
- California Tuberculosis Screening Guidelines for Child Care Centers and Schools
- In San Mateo County, TB screening requirements for students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade are determined by the school district. Please contact your school district office for more information.
FAQs
How can I tell if I have TB?
The best way to know if you have TB is to get a TB test.
There are two kinds of tests: a skin test and a blood test. Either test can tell if you’ve been infected by the TB germ.
If you’ve been infected, you might need other follow-up tests to tell whether you have active TB disease.
Symptoms of TB depend on which part of the body is affected.
Most people with TB disease have a cough that won’t go away, feel weak or sick, lose weight, have fever, and have night sweats. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away.
Where can I get a TB test?
- You can ask your doctor for a TB skin test or blood test
- You can visit one of the that offer TB skin tests or blood tests
- If you have been notified about being in contact with someone who has active TB, the County Health System can help you get tested for TB, even if you don’t have a regular doctor
| LOCAL OUTPATIENT CLINICS OFFERING TB SKIN OR BLOOD TESTS |
|---|
| Note: this information is subject to change. Please confirm in advance with the clinic! |
| Daly City Clinic 380 90th Street, Daly City (650) 301-8600 TST & QFT: Mon & Wed 8:45-11AM APPOINTMENT NEEDED $40 per test. |
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Daly City Youth Health Center |
| South San Francisco Clinic 306 Spruce Avenue, South San Francisco (650) 877-7070 TST & QFT: Mon-Fri 9-11AM & 1-3:30PM APPOINTMENT NEEDED FOR CHILDREN ONLY. Eligibility: Medi-Cal/HPSM, ACE, CHDP. Insurance screening available on site. |
| Fair Oaks Health Center 2710 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (650) 364-6010 QFT only: Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM APPOINTMENT NEEDED. Eligibility: Registered patients only (subject to change). Call to inquire. |
| Sequoia Teen Wellness Center (ages 12-21 years only) 200 James Avenue, Redwood City (650) 366-2927 TST & QFT: Mon-Fri 8:30-10:30AM & 1-2:30PM NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED FOR REGISTERED PATIENTS Eligibility: Medi-Cal/HPSM, ACE, CHDP. If uninsured, call to screen for Gateway Program coverage. $10 for TST, $45 for QFT. |
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San Mateo County Mobile Health Van |
What’s the difference between TB disease and latent TB infection?
TB disease occurs when the TB germs are active in a person’s body in large numbers. People with TB disease usually feel sick, and have one or more symptoms of TB disease. They may be infectious, which means they can pass the TB bacteria on to others. If it’s not treated, TB disease can cause serious disability and even death.
TB infection is caused by the same germs, but it’s less serious. People with TB infection are not sick because they have fewer of the germs in their body, and the germs are latent (sleeping). People with TB infection are not contagious. That means they cannot spread the germs to others. People with TB infection can end up developing TB disease in the future, especially if they are in one of the high-risk groups listed below, under “Who gets TB disease?” People with TB infection can take medicine to keep from developing TB disease.
This chart explains the differences between TB disease and TB infection.
| Latent TB Infection | Active TB Disease |
|---|---|
| TB germs are “asleep” in your body. This phase can last for a very long time – even many years. | TB germs are active and spreading. They are damaging tissue in your body. |
| You don’t look or feel sick. Your chest x-ray is usually normal. | You usually feel sick. Your doctor will do special test to find where TB is harming your body. |
| You cannot spread TB to other people. | If the TB germs are in your lungs, you can spread TB to other people by coughing, sneezing, talking, or singing. |
| Usually treated by taking one medicine for 9 months. | Treated by taking several TB medicines for at least 6 months. |
Who gets TB and how is it spread?
Who gets TB?
- If you have latent TB infection, you may never develop active TB disease. The risk of developing TB disease is higher if you:
- Have HIV infection
- Have been infected with TB germs recently (in the last 2 years)
- Have other health problems, like diabetes, that make it hard for your body to fight germs
- Take medications that suppress your immune system
- Use alcohol or misuse drugs
- Don’t eat enough healthy food
- Smoke cigarettes
- Were not treated correctly for TB infection in the past
- Are a child younger than 5
How is TB spread?
- TB germs are spread from person to person through the air.
- TB germs get into the air when a person with infectious TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, or sings.
- TB is NOT spread by touching or sharing dishes.
How can I tell if I have TB?
There are medicines you can take to prevent you from getting active TB disease.
Isoniazid (INH) is one common medicine used to treat latent TB infection. INH kills the “sleeping” TB germs before they have a chance to wake up and make you sick.
Public Health will work with your doctor to make sure you’re getting the right kind of medicine for your TB infection.
No matter which medication is prescribed, it’s important that you take all of it, exactly as directed. TB germs are strong, so it takes many months for the medicine to kill them.
INH works best if you take it every day. Take your INH without food. If you’re taking another kind of medication, your doctor or Public Health System will tell you when it’s best to take the medication.
While you’re taking INH or other TB medications, you should check in with your healthcare provider as scheduled to make sure your treatment is going well.
TB medicines are usually safe, although some people may have side effects. If you think you are having any side effects to your TB medicine, call or see your doctor right away.
If I have active TB, how can I get better?
To get better, you should follow these important steps:
- You need to see a doctor and take special TB medicines to kill the TB germs.
- TB germs are strong and live a long time. You will feel better a few weeks after you start to take the TB medicines. Even though you feel better, you must keep taking TB medicines for at least 6-9 months to make sure you kill all the TB germs.
- It’s important to work with your public health nurse and see your doctor regularly until your TB treatment is finished. The doctor will do follow-up tests to make sure you’re getting better, to ask if you have any problems with your medicines, and to answer your questions.
What should I know about taking TB medication?
Many people take TB medication every day without any problems, but there are a few things you should watch for:
- Poor appetite, losing weight, or feeling tired for no reason
- Nausea or vomiting. If you have nausea when you begin taking your pills, try eating a little food with your pill, or try taking it at bedtime. If you’re still nauseous after three days, call your doctor right away.
- Pain in your abdomen
- Dark urine (the color of strong tea)
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Skin rash or itching
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- Coughing for more than three weeks
- Sweating at night
- Fever for longer than 3 days
If you have any of these problems, call your doctor right away – don’t wait for your next appointment.
Other important things to remember:
- Drinking alcohol while you take TB medicine can hurt your liver. Don’t drink beer, wine, or liquor until you completely finish your LTBI treatment.
- Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine or if you think you may be pregnant.
I’ve had a BCG vaccine. Doesn’t that protect me from TB?
The BCG vaccine (a TB vaccine) can help keep young children from getting serious complications of TB. However, this protection goes away as people get older. People who were vaccinated with BCG can still get latent TB (inactive) infection and active TB disease.
If you had the BCG vaccine and you’re offered a choice between a TB blood test and a TB skin test, it’s a good idea to choose the blood test. This is because the TB blood test is not affected by the BCG vaccine. This means that your TB blood test will be “positive” only if you have TB germs in your body.
If you’ve had the BCG vaccine and you don’t have the choice to get a TB blood test, you should still have the TB skin test.