Today is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day and TriCounty Health is educating the public about TB and what to be aware of. Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can attack any part of the body, most often we see it in the lungs. It used to be very prevalent but thankfully that is no longer the case. Those with TB generally have a really bad and productive cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in their chest, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and/or weakness/fatigue. TB spreads through the air through droplets when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings. It is not spread by shaking hands, sharing food, touching surfaces, sharing toothbrushes or kissing. Individuals should be tested for TB if they have spent time with someone who has it, are from countries where TB is common, or work in high risk settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, or homeless shelters. To learn more, visit www.tricountyhealth.com.
