Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis basics
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that primarily affects the lungs and is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets in the air.
Common symptoms include a prolonged (3+ weeks) cough, chest pain, and coughing up blood. However, not everyone who is infected with TB will develop symptoms or become sick.
There are two main TB illness types: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease, or active TB. Learn the differences between the two conditions, and how to protect yourself from TB, here.
Tuberculosis: What to know
There are two main types of tests used to detect TB bacteria - the TB skin test (TST) and TB blood tests. These tests will detect whether a person has been infected with the TB bacterium, but a positive test will require additional testing (such as chest x-rays and sputum samples) to determine whether the person has active TB or LTBI.
Your doctor or healthcare provider will help you in deciding which test is most appropriate for you.
To schedule a TB test at the Howard County Health Department, call 765-456-2408, option 1 for nursing at least (x) days before you need the test results.
There is a variety of reasons why someone should be tested for TB. People who spend time in large group settings where TB is more common These include, but are not limited to...
- Experiencing symptoms of TB disease
- Spent time with someone who has active TB
- Factors put you at higher risk of developing TB
- Employment, school, travel, or immigration screening requirements
To schedule a TB test at the Howard County Health Department, call 765-456-2408, option 1 for nursing at least (x) days before you need the test results.
Under construction - coming soon!
To schedule a TB test at the Howard County Health Department, call 765-456-2408, option 1 for nursing at least (x) days before you need the test results.
Under construction - coming soon!
Treatment is available for both active TB and for LTBI. TB is a serious disease and without treatment, it can be fatal. LTBI untreated can progress to active TB, so adhering to a treatment plan is critical to recovering from the disease.
Medication is available to treat both LTBI and active TB disease, and treatment often includes a combination of multiple medications. Speak with your healthcare provider to decide which treatment path is best for you.
Treatment for TB and LTBI can last long periods of time and require daily maintenance for recovery. Directly observed therapy (DOT), which involves a healthcare provider observing a patient taking their prescribed medications daily, significantly helps people to adhere to their treatment plan. DOT can take place in person or virtually, so speak with your healthcare provider to determine if this is the right treatment plan for you.
Learn more about TB treatment here.
Information Central
Hours of Operation
Public Health Nursing
120 E Mulberry St Room #206
Kokomo, IN 46901
Fax: 765-456-7000
Email: nursing@howardcountyin.gov
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
10:00 am - 6:00 pm on the first Tuesday of the month