If you have recently been exposed to someone with active TB and believe there is a chance you might have contracted the disease, it is important to consult your health care provider immediately. There are two methods for TB testing:   Skin test: The Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) requires injecting a protein solution sometime between 8 and 10 weeks after contact with an infected person. The patient must return to the medical provider two or three days later to have the skin reaction interpreted.  Blood test: Although it's not as commonplace as the skin test, the TB blood test only requires a single doctor visit and is less likely to result in misinterpretation by a medical professional. It is the necessary option for anyone who has received the BCG vaccination, as the vaccine can interfere with the accuracy of the tuberculin skin test. If your TB test is positive, you will need to undergo additional testing. Health professionals will need to determine whether you have a latent TB (which is not contagious) or active TB disease before proceeding with treatment. Tests may include a chest x-ray and a sputum test. If you test positive for latent TB, you should consult with your doctor about the best course of action.  Although you don't feel sick with a latent TB, and it isn't contagious, you will probably be prescribed a course of antibiotics to kill the inactive TB germs and prevent tuberculosis from turning into an active disease. The two most common treatments are: Taking isoniazid daily or twice a week. The duration of the treatment is six or nine months. Or, for those who can’t tolerate isoniazid, taking rifampin daily for four months. If you test positive for active TB, it is essential that you begin treatment as soon as possible.  Symptoms of active TB include cough, sputum production, fever, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, chills and a loss of appetite. Nowadays, active TB is highly treatable with a combination of antibiotic medications, however the duration of treatment can be quite long, usually between six to twelve months. The most common medications to treat TB include isoniazid, rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), ethambutol (Myambutol) and pyrazinamide. With active TB, you will usually need to take a combination of these drugs, especially if you have a particularly drug-resistant strain. Patients with resistance to both isoniazid and rifampin should be monitored for two years after treatment. If you follow your treatment plan exactly, you should start to feel better within a matter of weeks and you should no longer be contagious. However, it is essential that you finish your course of treatment, otherwise the TB will remain in your system and potentially become more drug resistant.
رتب لإجراء فحص السل إذا كنت قد تعرضت لشخص مصاب به. ابدأ العلاج الفوري للسل الكامن. ابدأ العلاج الفوري للسل النشط.