What does it mean to have inactive tuberculosis?
You have a TB infection, but the bacteria in your body are inactive and cause no symptoms. Latent TB , also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn’t contagious. Latent TB can turn into active TB , so treatment is important.
Can you spread inactive tuberculosis?
People with latent TB do not have any symptoms and cannot spread TB. If they do not get treatment, however, they may develop active TB disease in the future, spread the disease to others, and feel quite ill.
Do you have to treat inactive TB?
Treatment of latent TB infection is essential to controlling TB in the United States because it substantially reduces the risk that latent TB infection will progress to TB disease. In the United States, up to 13 million people may have latent TB infection.
How does inactive TB become active?
Is inactive TB contagious? Inactive TB is not contagious and cannot be spread to others. TB can only be spread when inactive TB becomes active. Inactive TB can turn into active TB when the person’s immune system can no longer control the TB germ.
How is inactive TB diagnosed?
The main ways to diagnose LTBI are by placing a tuberculin skin test (TST) on the forearm or by getting a TB blood test, in addition to obtaining a chest radiograph (x-ray) if either one of these tests is positive. One-third of the world’s population has LTBI. The TB germs are dormant (asleep) in the body.
Can someone with latent TB infect others?
Your tests show that you have latent TB infection, also referred to as “LTBI.” Latent TB infection means TB germs are in your body but it is like the germs are sleeping. The latent TB germs are not hurting you and cannot spread to other people.
What are the symptoms of inactive tuberculosis?
The Difference between Latent TB Infection (LTBI) and TB Disease
- a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer.
- pain in the chest.
- coughing up blood or sputum.
- weakness or fatigue.
- weight loss.
- no appetite.
- chills.
- fever.
How do you know if TB is latent or active?
Persons with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others.
- Usually has a skin test or blood test result indicating TB infection.
- Has a normal chest x-ray and a negative sputum test.
- Has TB bacteria in his/her body that are alive, but inactive.
- Does not feel sick,
What makes latent TB become active?
However, latent TB bacteria can ‘wake up’ and become active in the future, making you ill. This can happen many years after you first breathe in TB bacteria. Latent TB bacteria are more likely to wake up if you experience lifestyle stresses or other illnesses that weaken your immune system.
Can latent TB reactivate?
Approximately 10% of latent infections reactivate, resulting in active, infectious tuberculosis months to years after the initial infection (31). The risk of reactivation increases to 5 to 15% annually in persons coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (28).
Why does TB reactivate?
Reactivation TB may occur if the individual’s immune system becomes weakened and no longer is able to contain the latent bacteria. The bacteria then become “active;” they overwhelm the immune process and make the person sick with TB. This also is called TB disease.
How can you prevent latent TB from becoming active?
You can take medicine to prevent getting active TB disease. Levofloxacin is a medicine used to treat LTBI. It kills the sleeping TB germs before they make you sick. It can take many months for the medicine to kill the TB germs because the germs are strong.
What is inactive TB?
Inactive TB is also known as TB infection or latent TB. People with inactive TB are not sick and cannot spread TB to others. 1 out of 3 people in the world has inactive TB. Is inactive TB contagious? Inactive TB is not contagious and cannot be spread to others. TB can only be spread when inactive TB becomes active.
What is the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) from inactive TB?
Most people with inactive TB never develop active TB. For healthy people with inactive TB, the risk of developing active TB is about 5% within the first 2 years of becoming infected.
How is inactive tuberculosis (TB) diagnosed?
A TB skin test (TST) is the most common way to diagnosis inactive TB. A small amount of liquid, called tuberculin, is injected under the skin on your forearm. Two to three days later, you must return to have your arm checked. If there is a reaction (induration), it will be measured to see if it is considered positive for TB.
Is inactive TB contagious?
Inactive TB is not contagious and cannot be spread to others. TB can only be spread when inactive TB becomes active. Inactive TB can turn into active TB when the person’s immune system can no longer control the TB germ. The following people with inactive TB are most likely to get active TB: How is inactive TB treated?