//General Tuberculosis Information FAQs

General Tuberculosis Information FAQs

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?2019-03-05T12:39:05-08:00


What are symptoms of TB?2019-03-05T12:39:33-08:00

Symptoms depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs. TB in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:

  • A persistent cough that lasts two weeks or longer
  • Chest Pain

Other symptoms of active TB disease are:

  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • No appetite
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Sweating at night

How is TB spread?2019-03-05T12:38:46-08:00




People with active TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day, such as family members, friends and coworkers.



How do they test for TB?2019-03-05T12:41:40-08:00

The TB skin test is used to find out if you have TB infection. A small amount of testing fluid is injected just under the skin on the underside of the forearm. After two or three days, you must return to have your skin test read by a health care worker to determine if it is positive or negative. A positive result usually means that you have been infected by someone with active TB disease. If you miss the skin reading, the entire test will have to be given again.

Another test is a blood test. The QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-G) is a whole-blood test to aid in diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, including latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and tuberculosis (TB) disease.

What if I test positive for TB?2019-03-05T12:43:37-08:00

If you have a positive reaction to the TB test, the Health District will schedule a chest x-ray. A test of the phlegm you cough up may be required after your X-rays are reviewed.

If you have latent TB infection, you may need to take medicine to keep from developing active TB disease.

Who should get tested for TB?2019-03-05T14:02:13-08:00

You should get tested for TB if you have any of the following risk factors:

  • You have spent time with a person who has, or is suspected to have, active TB disease.
  • You have HIV infection or another condition that puts you at high risk for active TB disease.
  • You think you might have active TB disease.
  • You are from a place where active TB disease is very common (Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia).
  • You live or spend time in homeless shelters, migrant farm camps, prison or jail, and some nursing homes.
  • You inject illegal drugs.

What is latent TB infection?2019-03-05T15:00:46-08:00


People with latent TB infection:

  • Have no symptoms
  • Don’t feel sick
  • Can’t spread it to others
  • Usually have a positive skin test reaction
  • Can develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB infection


What is active TB disease?2019-03-05T12:58:08-08:00



Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions:

  • Substance abuse
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Silicosis
  • Cancer of the head or neck
  • Leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease
  • Severe kidney disease
  • Low body weight
  • Specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease.

How is active TB disease treated?2019-03-05T13:07:22-08:00

Active TB can almost always be cured with medicine, but the medicine must be taken as directed or you risk the bacteria becoming resistant to the medicine. Several medications are used at the same time because there are so many TB bacteria to be killed. TB bacteria die very slowly; it takes at least 6 months for the medicine to kill all of the TB bacteria.

You will probably start feeling better after only a few weeks of treatment. However, the TB bacteria are still alive in your body and if you stop taking the medicine, you will get sick again. You must continue to take your medicine until all the TB bacteria are dead, and you are symptom-free.

What if I have active TB disease of the lungs or throat?2019-03-05T13:08:35-08:00

If you have active TB disease of the lungs or throat, you are probably infectious. You will need to stay home from work or school, so you don’t spread TB bacteria to other people. When people are in your home, you will need to wear a mask over your mouth and nose to prevent spreading the disease.

After taking the medicine for a few weeks, you will feel better and may no longer be infectious to others. A TB Clinic nurse will tell you when you can return to work or school or visit with friends.

What is directly observed therapy (DOT)?2019-03-05T13:13:30-08:00

DOT is the standard of care for taking TB medication.

All TB patients are placed on directly observed therapy, which enables us to watch you closely for side effects and ensures medicines are taken properly, not forgotten, and that you successfully complete a full course of therapy.

It is convenient, easy to arrange and can be scheduled to fit into your daily routine.

  1. You are seen for DOT by a TB Clinic nurse every day or several times a week at a place you both agree on, such as the TB Clinic, home, work, video conference, etc.
  2. The nurse will watch you take your medication.

TB treatment can be challenging, and DOT helps ensure your success. Most people have trouble remembering to take their medicines, or they stop taking them when they feel better. If this happens, the TB could become stronger and resistant to medicines and/or you could start to feel sick again. If that happens, the TB is harder to treat and takes longer to cure.

With DOT everyone works as a team to make sure that you get better, supports you during a challenging time, and ensures that no one around you gets sick.

What is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB)?2019-03-05T13:15:14-08:00

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is TB that is resistant to at least two of the best drugs used to treat TB, isoniazid and rifampicin. These drugs are considered first-line drugs and are used to treat most people with TB disease.

How does drug resistance happen?2019-03-05T13:16:09-08:00

Resistance to anti-TB drugs can occur when these drugs are misused or mismanaged. Examples include when patients do not complete their full course of treatment; when health care providers prescribe the wrong treatment, the wrong dose or length of time for taking the drugs; when the supply of drugs is not always available; or when the drugs are of poor quality.

How can MDR TB be prevented?2019-03-05T13:18:56-08:00

The most important way to prevent the spread of MDR TB is to take all medications exactly as prescribed. No doses should be missed, and treatment should not be stopped early. Patients should tell the doctor if they are having trouble taking the medications. If patients plan to travel, they should make sure they have enough medicine to last while they are away.



If you work in hospitals or health care settings where TB patients are likely to be seen, consult infection control or occupational health experts. Ask about administrative and environmental procedures for preventing exposure to TB. Once those procedures are implemented, additional measures could include using personal respiratory protective devices.

What is extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)?2019-03-05T13:38:14-08:00

Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB) is a rare type of MDR TB. XDR TB is defined as TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, plus resistant to any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs.

Because XDR TB is resistant to first-line and second-line drugs, patients are left with treatment options that are much less effective. XDR TB is of special concern for people with HIV infection or other conditions that weaken the immune system. These people are more likely to develop TB disease once they are infected and have a higher risk of death once they develop TB.

Where can I get more information?2019-04-10T15:48:31-07:00

The Tuberculosis Treatment & Control Clinic is located at 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89107. The Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (Closed for legal holidays/weekends) Appointments are highly recommended and can be scheduled by calling (702) 759-1370.

Contact Information

Phone: (702) 759-1370


Updated on:  March 5, 2019