Tuberculosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

• In the early stage, you may have no symptoms at all, even though you are infected, or you may feel as though you have the flu.
• In the second stage, you may have fever, weight loss, sweating, and tiredness.
• In the later stage, the most common sign is a cough. You may cough up yellowish-green matter (sputum) or blood. It may be painful and hard to breathe.

Care

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Your doctor must report all cases of tuberculosis to the health department. This helps protect others from getting the disease. It also helps you get the care you need to cure your TB. You must stick with your treatment until you are cured, even if you don't feel sick. Otherwise, the health department can step in and make sure you get the treatment you need.
• It is very important that you take your tuberculosis medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. If you skip or stop your pills, some of the TB germs will not be killed. Remember, the germs can hide in your body without causing symptoms unless they are completely eliminated with the right medicine. Here are some hints for remembering your pills:
  • Ask someone else, such as a family member or a friend, to help you keep track of your doses.
  • Take your pills at the same time every day.
  • Mark on a calendar every time you take the pills.
  • Each night, put out the pills for the next day.
  • Keep the pills in a place where you can't miss them, such as the bathroom or kitchen. Be sure they are out of reach of children.
  • Use 7 little pill bottles and label them for each day of the week, or buy a pill container marked with the days of the week at a drug store.
• You will need to have regular checkups to make sure the pills are working. It is very important that you keep all your appointments. At the checkup, be sure to tell your doctor if you think something is wrong.
• At every checkup, you'll have your weight, temperature, and lungs checked. You may also have a picture taken of your lungs (chest x-ray) to see how you are healing. In addition, you may be asked for a sputum sample. It will be tested to see if you are coughing up any TB germs and whether the pills are working.
• Until your doctor says you can't spread your TB germs to others:
  • Stay at home. Avoid close contact with others, especially babies and elderly people.
  • You don't need to wear a mask. But, always cover your mouth and nose with a paper tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the used tissues away. If possible, flush them down a toilet.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after you cough or sneeze.
  • Don't go back to work or school. You may be able to return to work once your coughs and sneezes are no longer infectious. If your boss is worried, your doctor may be able to help.
• It's important to eat a well balanced diet, but you don't have to stuff yourself or eat special foods. And be sure to get plenty of rest.
• Other family members, close friends, and co-workers should have a TB skin test. They could have caught the germs without getting sick. They may need to take medicine to keep TB from developing. People you saw only once in a while probably don't need to be tested.
• You can't pass TB germs to others from clothes, drinking glasses, dishes, handshaking, or using the same toilet.
• After you are finished with treatment, you will need to have regular checkups for at least 2 years to make sure the TB doesn't flare up again.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You have any problems that may be caused by the medicine you are taking. Side effects you should tell your doctor about include nausea and vomiting, rash, urine the color of dark tea or coffee, or yellow eyes or skin.
• Your tuberculosis symptoms don't go away or get worse, even though you are taking your TB pills.
• Anyone who spent time near you develops symptoms of tuberculosis such as fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, night sweats, or cough. They will need to get tested for TB.
• You have a cough that doesn't clear up after 3 or 4 weeks following a cold.
• You have a high temperature.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You have chest pain or bring up blood when you cough.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness.

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Chest X-ray: This picture of your lungs and heart will show the doctor any signs of the illness. The heart is checked for its size, and the lungs for liquid.
• Sputum Sample: If you are coughing up sputum, your doctor may need to send a sample to the lab. This sample will be tested for TB and other kinds of germs.
• Bronchoscopy (bron-kos-ko-pee): For a close look at your lungs, the doctor can pass a flexible tube through your nose or mouth and down into your airways. The tube can also be used to take a sample of mucus or a small piece of lung for testing.
• Lumbar Puncture: In this test, fluid is taken out of an area near your spine. It is then sent to a lab and tested for blood and signs of infection.
• Medicines: Tuberculosis drugs will be prescribed to fight the infection. They may be given by IV, in a shot, or by mouth.
• Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Pulse Oximeter: While you are getting oxygen, you may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine. It measures the oxygen in your blood.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• Blood Gases: Blood is taken from an artery in your wrist, elbow, or groin, and tested for the amount of oxygen in your blood.
• Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell a doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the nasal prongs bother you.