TB: A Special Risk for People with HIV
Ten years ago, the number of Americans who had TB was going down. But today, TB is on the rise again. People with HIV are at special risk for TB, but most kinds of TB can be cured.
This section explains what TB is and how it spreads. It also shows what you can do to help yourself against TB--and to help stop its spread.
What is TB?
TB is short for tuberculosis, the medical name for the disease. TB can harm the lungs, brain, or spine.
TB germs do not always make you sick, but if you have HIV, you are more likely to become sick with TB disease.
People with TB disease may have some or all of the problems below.
Symptoms of TB Disease
How You Get TB
People can get TB by breathing in TB germs over a long period of time. If you become sick with TB disease, you can pass the TB germs on to others by coughing or sneezing. You should always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Because TB is spread by germs in the air, close friends and family members of a person with TB should know about TB and be tested for it.
Medicines Can Help You Fight Back
Medicines work well against most TB. They can:
and
Taking TB medicines can keep you healthy longer and stop TB from spreading.
How To Help Yourself
If tests show you have been infected by TB germs, you can take medicine to prevent TB disease. If tests show you already have TB disease, you can take medicines to cure it.
TB Medicine Schedule
Ask your doctor about your medicines. Write down the answers in the spaces below.
Name of Medicine: ________________________________
Times of Day to Take: _____________________________
How Much to Take: _______________________________
How Long to Keep Taking: _________________________
Research: Hope for the Future
Scientists are studying better ways to check if you have TB and to prevent and treat TB in people with HIV. They want to make it easier to fight TB and keep you healthy longer.
You may be able to take part in one of these studies. You may help yourself and others with HIV.
If you are interested, talk to your doctor or clinic nurse. Or call the numbers below to find out more.
Remember:
To Find Out More
Here are some numbers to call to learn more about TB:
You can ask questions about TB and get more information. They can also tell you where to get treatment.
You can find out about research on TB and HIV -- what studies are going on and where they are.
SOURCE: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)
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