TB Case at School: No Need to Panic

Recently, a student at Hartsville High School has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Health officials are working hard to figure out who might have been exposed. But, there's no need to worry. TB isn't easily spread. You can't catch it by just walking by someone or sharing a meal. TB needs close, prolonged contact to spread. That means spending a lot of time near someone who is coughing, sneezing, or talking. This is why health officials are focusing on those who had close contact with the student. TB is a serious disease, but it's not common in the United States. That's why vaccines for TB aren't routinely given here. In other parts of the world where TB is more common, vaccines are used to lower the risk. Symptoms of TB can include a cough that lasts more than three weeks, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, and feeling tired all the time. If you have these symptoms, it's important to see a doctor. TB can be treated, but it takes a long time. Treatment can last up to nine months or even longer if the disease has spread to the brain or other parts of the body. Several different antibiotics are used to fight TB. Health officials are more worried about the spread of flu strains in the state than TB. TB is not as easily spread as the flu. TB is a bacteria that can be treated with antibiotics. It is not a virus. It is not like the flu or a cold. It is not spread by casual contact. It is spread by close, prolonged contact with someone who has an active TB infection. It is not spread by touching surfaces or objects that have been touched by someone with TB. TB is a serious disease, but it's not as contagious as many people think. It's important to remember that TB is treatable, but it takes a long time to cure. If you have symptoms of TB, it's important to see a doctor right away. Early treatment can help prevent the spread of the disease and improve the chances of a full recovery. TB is a serious disease, but it's not as common in the United States as it is in other parts of the world. That's why vaccines for TB aren't routinely given here. In other parts of the world where TB is more common, vaccines are used to lower the risk. TB is a bacteria that can be treated with antibiotics. It is not a virus. It is not like the flu or a cold. It is not spread by casual contact. It is spread by close, prolonged contact with someone who has an active TB infection. It is not spread by touching surfaces or objects that have been touched by someone with TB.