Answering FAQs on Tuberculosis (TB): A Resource for Newcomers
Overview of Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that usually affects the lungs but can also attack other parts of the body. The bacteria can spread from person to person. TB is common in many parts of the world and can potentially be deadly. However, it can be prevented and treated. Learning about TB and its treatment options is important for protecting yourself, your family, and your community.
Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. There are two types of TB-related conditions: active TB disease and inactive TB, or latent TB infection.
- Active TB Disease: People with TB disease feel sick and can spread TB bacteria to others.
- Latent TB Infection: People with inactive TB do not have symptoms of TB disease. However, treatment is very important to prevent latent TB from developing into active TB disease and making you sick.
TB bacteria are passed through the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing droplets containing the bacteria that can be inhaled by others. TB bacteria are more likely to spread in indoor areas or other places with poor air circulation than in outdoor areas.
Symptoms of active TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. Most often, TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs.
- Common symptoms of active TB disease include:
- A cough that lasts a long time (three weeks or more)
- Pain in your chest
- Coughing up blood
- Fever (feeling very hot, cold, or shaking)
- Sweating at night
- Feeling very tired
With increased TB rates in many countries, tuberculosis screening is a requirement for many newcomers coming to the United States. The reason is to help individuals with the illness get the right care and to prevent TB from spreading in the U.S. It’s also important for meeting certain immigration requirements. For example, some newcomers, such as refugees and immigrant visa holders, are checked for TB before coming to the U.S., while others, like certain Ukrainian and Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, were required to be tested after they arrived. Individuals must also be tested for TB as part of the process of applying for lawful permanent residence (Green Cards).
TB testing may be free or available at a reduced cost, depending on your eligibility and insurance coverage.
Free testing may be available at your doctor’s office, your local or state health departments, or certain community events.
There are two main types of tests for TB infection. Your doctor will recommend the best test for you:
- TB Blood Test: This test uses a blood sample to determine if you’re infected with TB germs. The TB blood test is the preferred test if you received the Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination, or TB shot, in the past.
- TB Skin Test: This test involves injecting a small amount of testing fluid into the skin. A health care provider checks for a reaction after 48 to 72 hours.
If you test positive for TB, your health care provider will do additional testing, such as chest X-rays and sputum smears, to determine if you have active TB disease or inactive TB, also known as latent TB infection. Latent TB infection means you have TB bacteria inside your body, but they are not growing or actively making you sick. It is still important to treat latent TB infection.
Yes. TB disease is almost always treatable and cured with different types of TB medication, as explained by your doctor or nurse.
- For active TB disease, you can get treated with medicine. You must take all your medicine exactly how your doctor or nurse tells you. This is to help you feel better and stop you from spreading TB to others.
- For latent TB infection, medicine is available and highly recommended to kill the bacteria. It’s the best way to protect yourself from getting sick with active TB disease in the future. Talk to your doctor about which medicine will work best for you.
TB bacteria can take a long time to die. It is important to take and finish all TB medicines exactly as instructed.
Untreated TB disease can have serious health effects, including:
- Damage to the lungs
- Other serious illnesses
- Spreading TB to others
- Death
By law, your personal health information stays private. However, health care providers must tell their local or state health departments about active TB cases to prevent the disease from spreading in the community and to help people get the right treatment. Health officials do not share your personal information with the public.
Most people coming to live permanently in the U.S. are typically required to be screened for TB prior to arrival, after entry, and/or when they adjust to lawful permanent resident (green card) status. If you were required to get tested for TB as a condition of your parole and you have not done so already, it is especially important to do so as soon as possible, or you could risk termination of your parole. Be sure to speak to an immigration attorney if you have any concerns about your status.
If you received a U.S. immigration examination overseas: Usually your medical documentation is taken care of for you as part of the immigration and refugee process. But sometimes, depending on that checkup, you might be asked to visit your local health department for follow-up after you arrive.
If you are required to get screened in the U.S.: You must show proof that you got the test done within the required timeframe.
For additional resources, contact your local health department or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC offers information in several languages, including Dari, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, and English.
If you have any questions about the information in this FAQ document, you can reach out to the Settle In team.