World Tuberculosis (TB) Day

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

TB is an infection caused by bacteria. Although it mainly affects the lungs it can actually affect any part of the body. This includes ours bones or our brain resulting in meningitis.

How does TB spread?

When a person has TB in their lungs or throat, and they cough or sneeze it can spread to those around them. It does take more sustained contact with people than viruses such as Covid-19 or Flu.

What are the symptoms of TB?

These can include a cough that lasts more than three weeks, high temperature or drenching night sweats, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and feeling tired or exhausted. However people may experience some but not all of these symptoms with TB.

How do you treat TB?

TB is treatable – when diagnosed early and treated promptly and in full. The person with TB needs a prolonged course of specific antibiotics. However, if someone isn’t treated it can become more serious. It is important to have timely and accurate detection followed by recommended treatment– completed in full to improve recovery and reduce onward spread.

Who can get TB?

Anyone. We have seen an increase in cases in the UK for both UK born and non-UK born populations with 80% of cases notified to UKHSA being born outside of the UK. For those born in the UK, TB is more common among those who have a weakened immune system, experience homelessness, drug and alcohol dependence and have had contact with the criminal justice system. 

Did you know?

TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. 10 million people a year fall ill with TB, sadly resulting in 1.4 million deaths worldwide. Although the UK remains a low incidence country, we are seeing an increase in TB cases and those which are drug resistant. Drug resistant TB requires longer and more complex treatment.

Active TB Vs Latent TB infection (LTBI)

If you have active TB disease, the bacteria are multiplying in your body, making you ill. If it is in your lungs or throat you can then also spread this to other people. Once someone with infectious active TB starts antibiotics they will become noninfectious after a few weeks of their specific antibiotic TB medication, but it is important to complete all advised treatment to ensure TB is cured. LTBI is where the bacteria is within your body but is not making you sick. If you have LTBI you have no symptoms and you cannot pass it onto others. LTBI can in time become active TB, making you unwell and potentially if in your lungs also able to spread TB to others. For people at risk of developing active TB, treatment for LTBI is available.

What can I do?

With TB cases rising nationally and locally, it is important that individuals and also care managers remain aware of signs and symptoms , think possible TB, and people are supported to speak to their GP early if they are experiencing TB symptoms, especially if they have may be at higher risk of TB infection. Treatment for TB is available for free to everyone living in the UK. Early diagnosis and treatment, , reduces the risk of TB spreading to others and also improves outcomes for the person

Links to more information:

Home - The Truth About TB

Podcast 1 - Raising awareness of TB: signs, symptoms and treatment

Podcast 2 - What happens if someone in a setting is diagnosed with TB?

This information has been provided by Public Health Devon.