Tuberculosis

Question 1

What are risk factors for contracting TB?

Answer 1

-crowded living conditions
-homelessness
-low income/lack of medical attention

Question 2

s/s of TB include…

Answer 2

-fever
-malaise
-night sweats
-weight loss
-cough
-anemia
-weakness

Question 3

A TB skin test alone is enough to diagnose active TB. True or False?

Answer 3

FALSE!

A TB skin test will detect infection within 2-10 weeks of exposure.
A positive test would need to be followed up with more blood work, chest x-ray, and sputum cultures. This would then indicate active TB disease (if all come back positive). Multiple drug therapy would be indicated for treating active TB disease.

A positive TB skin test with a negative chest x-ray and sputum culture is just a TB infection. Single-drug therapy is indicated.