Frequently Asked Questions about Tuberculosis

Yes. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), TB was the second leading infectious disease killer worldwide in 2022, after COVID-19.

TB germs are spread through the air when someone with active TB disease coughs, talks or sings. People nearby may breathe in the TB germs and become infected. TB is most likely to spread to those who have spent time around someone who has active TB disease such as a family member, friend, or colleague.

TB does not live on surfaces and is not spread by sharing toothbrushes, kissing, shaking someone’s hand, touching bed linens or toilets, or sharing food, drink, or utensils.

If not properly treated, tuberculosis can be fatal; however, it can be cured with the right medication.

If you need a TB test for employment or school, please contact your medical care provider. The Snohomish County Health Department does not provide TB testing services.

If you suspect you have TB, please contact your medical care provider for formal testing and diagnosis.

Fortunately, active TB does not spread easily. When someone in Snohomish County is diagnosed with active TB that is contagious, the Health Department provides testing for anyone considered exposed. If you believe you have had a significant exposure to someone with active TB who is contagious, and you have not been contacted already by the Health Department, you may consider discussing this with your medical care provider.

Most TB disease develop in people who had inactive TB for years without realizing it. Conditions that stress the body or weaken the immune system, such as diabetes, kidney disease, immune disorders, and smoking, can increase the risk of inactive TB progressing to active TB.

A simple blood test can determine if you have a TB infection. Testing is recommended if you have any of the following risk factors:

1. Born, traveled, or lived in a country outside the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Western Europe for more than a month.
2. Being treated for conditions affecting the immune system, like HIV or cancer.
3. Taking medications that impact the immune system, such as TNF-alpha inhibitors, methotrexate, or steroids.
4. Close contact with someone who had active TB disease, even if it was a long time ago.

If any of these apply, getting tested is important for early detection and treatment of inactive TB infection, which can prevent the development of active TB disease.

The medication eliminates the TB germs in your body before they have a chance to “wake up” and make you sick. By eradicating these germs now, you protect yourself and your family from developing active TB, which can cause serious illness and significant harm to the body.

TB is a slow-growing bacteria, so treating a TB infection takes longer compared to antibiotics for common pneumonia or minor infections. However, treating inactive TB is generally less complicated than treating active TB disease, which is why it's important to get tested and treated if you're at risk. It's crucial to take all the medication as prescribed; incomplete treatment can allow TB germs to multiply and become harder to eradicate, increasing the risk of developing active TB in the future.

Typically, any side effects from the medications are mild, but your medical care provider may adjust or change the medications if necessary. The risk of developing active TB is significantly higher than the risk of experiencing serious side effects.

The BCG vaccine protects against childhood TB. It does not protect you as an adult because the effectiveness of the vaccine decreases over time. If you were vaccinated with BCG, you may have a positive reaction to a TB skin test and should ask your medical care provider for a TB blood test instead. If your blood test is positive, further testing may be required. To read more about BCG vaccine, click here.

There are many misconceptions about TB. It is only transmitted through inhaling germs from a person with active TB when they cough, sing, or speak. TB often appears to cluster in families because they spend a lot of time together and share the same air, not because it is inherited.

Yes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most common cause of TB stigma is the perceived risk of transmission from TB-infected individuals to susceptible community members. TB is also stigmatized because of its associations with other diseases and life situations such as HIV, poverty, low social class, malnutrition, or substance use disorder. To read more about TB stigma, click here.