About Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by germs that spread through the air when someone with active TB coughs, sneezes, laughs or sings.

TB usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of your body. You can also have TB germs in your body and not feel sick or spread it. However, without treatment, these “sleeping” germs can wake up later and make you very sick.

TB can be prevented and cured with the right medicine. If not treated, TB can be fatal.

TB is not a disease of the past. It’s the world’s deadliest infectious disease. About 1 in 4 people worldwide carry TB germs. Not all of these people are sick now, but they are at risk of getting sick in the future.

Types of TB

Active TB disease

• The TB germs are awake
• You feel sick and have symptoms
• You can spread TB germs to others
• You need medical treatment to prevent permanent damage or death

If you have active TB disease, Multnomah County’s Tuberculosis Program will support you through treatment.

Inactive (latent) TB infection (LTBI)

• You have TB germs “sleeping” in your body but don’t feel sick
• You cannot spread TB germs to anyone else
• You need medical treatment to prevent active TB disease

Symptoms

If you have active TB, you might have these symptoms:

General symptoms

• Feeling weak or very tired
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Loss of appetite
• Chills

Symptoms in the lungs

• Cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood

There might also be other symptoms, depending on which body part is affected. 

People with inactive or latent TB do not have symptoms. However, without treatment, they can develop active TB disease and become very sick.

Who Is Most at Risk

Anyone can get TB, but some groups are at higher risk of getting TB germs. And some groups are more likely to get sick with active TB disease once they’re infected.

You are more likely to be exposed to TB:

• Where many people live together (shelters, nursing homes, jails)
• Hospitals
• Regions where TB is common (some countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America)
• If you spend time with someone who has active TB disease 

Higher Risk of Getting Sick

If your immune system is weakened, you’re more likely to get sick with active TB if you’re exposed. A weakened immune system can be caused by:

• HIV infection
• Substance use
• Treatments for autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease)
• Organ transplants
• Diabetes, severe kidney disease, head and neck cancers
• Young age, especially babies and young children under 5 years old

TB Testing

If you are at risk of being exposed to TB, talk to your doctor about getting a blood or skin test for TB. Depending on your results, you may need additional tests. 

If you don't have a doctor, call 211. They can help you find one. You can also call our Community Health Centers 503-988-5558 to enroll as a patient.

If you test negative

You likely don’t have TB germs. However, it takes 2 -10 weeks after an exposure for the test to show the correct result. If you were exposed to TB recently, you still might be infected.

The test could also show the wrong results if you have a weakened immune system.

If you test positive

It’s likely you’ve been infected with TB germs. Your doctor will order follow-up tests (such as a chest X-ray or sputum sample) to see if you have active TB disease or inactive TB infection (LTBI).

If You Have TB

TB is easily prevented and cured with medication. Follow your doctor’s advice and take the medicines as prescribed. Be sure to get recommended follow-up tests.

More Information

Oregon Tuberculosis Program

Tuberculosis Cases in Oregon 

Curry International Tuberculosis Center

Center for Tuberculosis - Resources